Basic Skills Education Programs
Basic skills education is designed to ensure students have the skills needed to succeed in the college environment. The Basic Skills Education Program shares the motto of the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE): "helping under-prepared students prepare, prepared students advance, and advanced students excel."
Basic skills education, as an umbrella term for a wide range of learning-centered activities, has several key goals:
- To preserve and make possible educational opportunity for each postsecondary learner
- To develop in each learner the skills and attitudes necessary for the attainment of academic, career, and life goals
- To ensure proper placement by assessing each learner's level of preparedness for college coursework
- To maintain academic standards by enabling learners to acquire competencies needed for success in mainstream college courses
- To enhance the retention of students
- To promote the continued development and application of cognitive and affective learning theory
The program is comprised of four main areas of basic skills: mathematics, English, reading, and other general interest courses.
Basic skills mathematics includes two separate classes: Basic Math Lab and Elementary Algebra. Basic Math Lab (BSKIL 061) is a pre-algebra course which prepares students for Elementary Algebra (BSKIL 064). Business Math (Math 101), or Technical Math I (Math 107). Basic Math Lab is a lab class, and students are required to use the Plato software that is accessible in the computer lab located in the Student Achievement Center on the south side of the Yeater building for one hour each week. Elementary Algebra consists of beginning algebra material, which must be mastered for a student to succeed in Intermediate Algebra (Math 112).
Basic skills English includes three separate classes: Basic English Lab, Introduction to Writing. and Intensive English for Nonnative Speakers. Basic English Lab (BKSIL 010) prepares students to better utilize English grammar and mechanics in improving writing skills. It may be taken concurrently or prior to Introduction to Writing (BSKIL 020). Basic English Lab students are required to use the Plato software in the computer lab located in the Student Achievement Center on the south side of the Yeater building for one hour each week. Introduction to Writing is a study of the fundamentals of language, usage, and paragraph writing which prepares students to succeed in Composition I (ENGL 101). English for Nonnative Speakers (BSKIL 005) is a course for students whose primary language is not English. It covers basic English grammar and usage for academic purposes, as well as speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills necessary for academic success.
Basic skills reading provides students with the opportunity to improve skills necessary to succeed in any class that involves reading. Reading (BSKIL 015) provides systematic instruction for development of reading/learning/critical thinking skills and equips student to comprehend and master college level material.
Other Courses to Help Students Advance and Excel
Other courses are offered to help students advance in college and careers. College Skills (EDUC 123) introduces students to various learning strategies, time management, note-taking, critical thinking, memory improvement, goal setting, and test preparation. Career Choices (EDUC 117) helps students who are undecided about a college major or who are making a career change determine the field of study for which they are best suited. Success 100 (EDUC 115) is an orientation course that introduces students to college and prepares them to become lifelong learners.
View COURSE CATALOG for course descriptions.
Academic Tutoring/Computer Lab
The lab is located in the Yeater 150 next to the main lobby. Free tutoring is offered for a wide variety of classes such as math, English, physic, and accounting to any SFCC students. Tutoring for classes not scheduled on a regular weekly basis is offered on an arranged basis through the classroom instructor. Specific times of other subjects being tutored are posted within the lab. Computers are also available in the same lab area. The computers provide word processing, Internet access, and Plato software dealing with a wide variety of topics in addition to English and mathematics.
For more information, click tutoring services.
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Rick McBride, Instructor for Basic Math Lab & Elementary Algebra
Sheryl Lazenby, Instructor for Basic Math Lab & Elementary Algebra
Shiela Bunker, Lead instructor for Reading
Marilyn Cantrell, part-time Developmental Reading Instructor
Kaley Hobbs, Lead Instructor for Introduction to Writing
Randy Crawshaw, Instructor of Writing
Julie Crawshaw, Instructional Resource Technician/Tutor Supervisor/Adjunct Instructor