I'm being asked if I've ever taught in a Community College as a precursor to a learning/design discussion. There seems to be a belief that teaching and learning in Community Colleges today, are any different than teaching and learning in a four year college.
As a student, what I realised is that university teachers have a different teaching method than college ones. When students are in college, teachers explain everything from the very begining. They explain their subject in a very constructive way, making sure everyone understands. They also spend more time individually and make sure every student has to know the subject. On the other hand, university students don't have time to explain everything and they assume students already possess some knowledge about a given issue. On class they don't have time to explain much of the subject but they can schedule meetings with the students outside class to clarify any doubts. Also, and this is obvious: university teachers are much stricter, as they make sure students' work is much more valued.
Hi Camille,
Since most community colleges that I am familiar with have open admission practices (i.e. high school diploma, or equivalent); while most four-year schools have additional admissions criteria, the range of student ability is likely to be larger in community college classes. I think this provides a greater challenge to the instructor to effectively meet the potentially greater diversity in ability among students. I think this is particularly true in introductory classes. As students proceed through the curriculum, academic "natural selection" tends to reduce student diversity -- just a thought...
This is great...:-)
I guess my view is different for many reasons
1. C. Lewis Kausel did identify that it differs from country to country. Education is free in my country and that makes it a bit of a competition - there is an admissions criteria for both and its the belief that if you do not get into the University, you either wait another year or apply to the Community College and then transfer.
2. My second view that differs is the changing landscape of students attending community colleges because of the rising cost of education here in the US. We have a number of students who can readily get into a university but just can not afford it so they apply to the Community College and then transfer to complete their degree.
So I think the factors are changing, thus affecting the perception of the institutions delivery abilities. I have not changed my teaching abilities moving from one type of institution to another but I will most definitely say that they have one thing in common - dedicated adult students...emphasis here on adult...:-)
A community college is a type of educational institution. A lot of countries allow the students to persue the B.Sc. degree in universities and those who have passed any of the core courses in a community college can pursue course waivers in university.
In US Community college is more practice oriented with a lot of hands on activities compared to a four year degree college. Students prefer to attend a community college because of low tuition and courses are directly aimed at a given profession.
Hi Nageswara,
While your description is true, more and more community colleges have entered into articulation agreements with 4-year schools so increasing numbers of students take their general education classes there and then transfer to complete Bachelors' degrees elsewhere. Additionally, community colleges are an important source of non-credit continuing education course offerings. Again the greater diversity of goals and ability of these students can/should shape pedagogy.
I agree Allan. In fact the program I teach is one. We have articulation agreements with all CC in Iowa for what we call as 2 + 2 programs. Almost 50% of our enrollment is through those articulations. Students save some tuition dollars and we get good students with very good practical skills. It is a win-win situation.
http://www.uni.edu/tech/transfer-information
Dear Kamal. That is true. The advantage I see with CC students is that they are well versed with the equipment and know how to proceed with getting it done with good discipline. Then teaching technical concept becomes easy for us. As you have rightly said there is not much of difference except the emphasis in teaching. Another difference is CC can employ teachers with MS degree while 4-year degree normally requires Ph D.
Just personal thoughts and observations: Most of my colleagues at Community College have to teach 5 courses a semester in large classes... in contrast to the 5 courses a year with small classes that is more typical of the 4 year colleges. Small classes (
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