Institution, Course, and Student Population
Being aware of the course, institution, as well as the students and their goals, helps instructors create more meaningful classes that are authentically presented and focused. Below is information that provides a look at the college, course, and students who are discussed in this project.
InstitutionFounded in 1927, Long Beach City College is a large two-year, public, urban-serving community college, with approximately 25,000 students in the Los Angeles area. The college employs over 1,400 full- and part-time faculty and staff and offers 897 courses. Students may work toward an Associate's degree in one of the college's 72 degree-offering programs and/or transfer to a four-year college or university.
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Course Description
This project focuses on examining an online Freshman Composition course (English 1) at Long Beach City College. In this course, students read and analyze college-level texts in order to write researched, thesis-based essays. The course is an introduction to academic writing, and instruction focuses on reading skills, as well as focus, development, organization, and the application of standard grammar and punctuation. English 1 is required for the A.A./A.S. degree and is also transferable to the California State Universities (CSU), Universities of California (UC), and private four-year colleges.
Student Population
Gender
Male 46%
Female 54% |
Student Age
19 or younger 28%
20-24 34% 25-34 21% 35-49 11% 50-older 6% |
Educational GoalBachelor's degree 42%
Associate's degree 6% Vocational 22% Personal 3% Basic Skills 3% Undecided 15% Unreported 8% |
Online Attendance
E-learning only 3%
E-learning and on campus 9% |
Pre-course surveys work well to introduce instructors to their students and obtain a deeper understanding of their needs and desires. Likewise, these surveys also create an initial rapport between student and instructor: one that illustrates that the instructor is serious about what the students' goals are for the course. You can see a sample pre-course survey for English 1 by clicking the link below.