ENG 253 DLA 08-09

This is specifically directed at the English 253 Classes (Gateway courses) to assist writing, study skills, and support of instruction

Directed Learning Activities Pilot

Project List

Beginning in fall 2008, the English Department and Academic Learning Center (ALC) of Hartnell College are collaborating on a pilot project called Directed Learning Activities (DLAs) for four English classes--two sections each of Janet Pessagno and Heidi Ramirez’s ENG 253 classes. The DLAs, ranging from independent activities on writing skills (appositives and subordinators, for example) to writing workshops in a group setting (followed by a brief learning activity), have been created by English instructors at Hartnell College to supplement and support instruction in ENG 253 classes. Each DLA is designed to be completed in an hour.

Each student in ENG 253 must complete a total of five DLAs in the Reading and Writing Lab during the semester, at the English instructor’s discretion. Instructors give each student a writing prescription listing one or several activities for the student to complete by a certain date.

For the new DLAs click here.

Goal:

Outcomes

Responsible Faculty/Staff

Janet Pessagno English Faculty

Heidi Ramirez English Faculty

Data from Fall 08 that looks at students that use DLA’s and students that do not. Four classes were followed.

Overall, students who completed DLAs in 11 classes performed more than a letter grade better--1.23, to be exact--in their English classes than students who didn't do DLAs. Furthermore, students gave the DLAs 88% (B+) in their surveys. The anecdotal comments for individual classes speak for themselves. Among the comments are how helpful and friendly the staff is in the Reading and Writing Lab and that the DLAs help students tremendously with writing, grammar, and comprehension of English concepts.