How many students are actually prepared to do college work? The ACT Inc. president says only 34 percent have the skills to be successful.

Skills Lacking

Students receive a K-12 education and have jumped through all the academic hoops necessary. They have attended for four years and taken math, foreign language, science, English, social studies, government, physical education, health, computer and are off to college. Are they ready? No, at least not many.

The AEE, Alliance for Excellent Education, met on September 12, 2007 and discussed the gap between a high school diploma and being ready for college. The AEE published a brief the same day stating that there is a fundamental disconnect between the way high school teachers prepare their students for the future and how students truly achieve success and meet the demands of college. [Meris Stansbury, eSchool News online, eschoolnews.org, September 13, 2007]

ACT Exam

Cyndie Schmeiser, president of the education division at ACT Inc., states, "Recent studies have shown that the skills needed to succeed in college are similar to the skills needed for good-paying jobs." [Activity, Spring 2007] ACT states in their quarterly report, Activity, that only 34 percent of students graduate from high school ready for college—and that number is smaller for minorities. Some states do better on the ACT tests than others but, overall, ACT Inc., has determined that

• 18 percent of students graduate from high school in four years, go to college and graduate with a two or four year degree.
• One-third of these students will be asked to take remedial classes in college.
• 65 percent of college professors said that high school standards do not prepare students for college.
• Many professors believe high school teachers are covering too many subjects too broadly.
• Multiple-choice tests rarely have students explain their reasoning.

A recent study shows that being overweight as a female lessens chances of attending college.

College Readiness

The ACT Inc. and AEE have defined three necessary concepts:

College Readiness:

• Critical-Thinking Skills
• Analysis
• Interpretation
• Problem solving
• Reasoning skills

Academic Behaviors

• Reading comprehension
• Time management
• Note-taking
• Self-awareness

College Entrance Skills

• Admissions process
• Placement testing
• Financial aid
• Expectations of college life

For Success In College

AEE and ACT state that teachers must:

• Believe that all students can succeed.
• Make honors courses available as electives for all students.
• Create rigorous work assignments using collaboration and problem-solving.
• Teach reading comprehension and writing skills.
• Motivate students to achieve.

[Meris Stansbury, eSchool News online, eschoolnews.org, September 13, 2007]

Philosophy In Education

There are various thoughts on what good teaching is.

• Some high school teachers believe that every student can learn and they adapt teaching styles to best serve the student. These teachers show students how to learn effectively within the student’s learning style.
• Another camp of educators feel it is the student’s responsibility to figure out how they learn and the student must adapt to the teaching style of the instructor.

It doesn’t take too much thought to determine which teachers are more successful with students and learning.

Related Articles: Cheating Is On The Rise, College Entrance Scores Down

Read previous articles on Educational Issues.

Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.