Quick Lunch Update–PaSSHE College Ready and Placement Working Group

Late morning/lunch work “writing group” was interesting. Lots of discussion at the way placement happens at all 14 State System universities. Some have tests, but a couple institutions do variations of directed self-placement. Other universities do a portfolio system. There seems to be a general agreement in the writing group that it might be possible to lay out some consistencies across the 14 as to what we expect in college level writing, which is DIFFERENT from what you might find in a placement test. For example, flexibility in responding to different audiences; writing in different genres; incorporating research.

Yet, there is a wide range in the preparation of students across the State System schools. Jim Moran in clear that some universities WILL HAVE TO change the way they do placement…although he is not being specific as to which universities. Everything, however, points to directed self-placement as a “problem” that is not assessable in a way that will be consistent across all 14.

There seems to be a general “sense” at the table that we can distinguish between what we expect in college-level writing and what are some of the barriers students face (at least that’s how I am trying to argue the case). What comes up consistently is the lack of funding from the the State System to support best practices–such as required portfolios from all new students, or even the kind of directed self-placement we do at Kutztown.  

Moran seems to be genuinely invested in the process, but is non-committal to guarantee funding to support best practices. 

Just moments ago, we had a pretty heated debate over the question of “remediation” and what kind of courses we are talking about.

Notes on Directed Self-Placement

Yesterday began yet another cycle in the KU Composition year: Connections and Directed Self-Placement. Connections is a two-day orientation for students who will be first-year students at Kutztown in the fall. In addition to a general orientation to all the ins and outs of the university, students also receive their first-semester schedules. As part of that two-day whirlwind, students also go through “Directed Self-Placement” to choose their composition course.

Unlike colleges and universities who place students in their first-year composition classes by using SAT/ACT scores or a timed essay, Kutztown takes students through a process called “Directed Self-Placement.” Basically, I get to see all the new students for a 45 minute session to discuss our different courses and the central place of writing at the college level. I also take them through a couple of surveys that ask students to self-assess their past writing and reading experiences. At the end of the process, students will have chosen their class.

At first the whole idea of students making their own decision as to which college composition course they will takes makes some people nervous. It’s not uncommon to hear concerns that students will then choose poorly, or that they will ignore the advice I give them or that they receive from their advisors. However, if you think that part of what happens at higher education is a shift in students’ relationship to their educational processes–i.e. they are no longer simply “following directions;” they must now also take over the responsibility for their choices–then Directed Self-Placement makes a whole lot of sense.

This year, we’re experimenting with a slightly different format and we will begin a process of assessing Directed Self-Placement at Kutztown. It should be an interesting and worthwhile endeavor. If you are interested in learning more about Directed Self-Placement, there is a great website from the folks at Grand Valley State University (one of the pioneers of Directed Self-Placement for college composition courses). The website has several useful links, including an article by Dan Royer and Roger Gilles about the model at GVSU–a model, I must say, that our Directed Self-Placement program borrowed heavily.

So, I’ll try and keep everyone up-to-date on how DSP is going this time around. In the meantime, enjoy the summer!