"To assist colleges in their efforts to reach for excellence, CCSSE has introduced national benchmarks of effective educational practice in community colleges. Research shows that the more actively engaged students are — with college faculty and staff, with other students, and with the subject matter — the more likely they are to learn and to achieve their academic goals. CCSSE benchmarks focus on institutional practices and student behaviors that promote student engagement — and that are positively related to student learning and persistence." (CCSSE, 2011)
The five benchmarks of effective educational practice in community colleges are:
active and collaborative learning, student effort,academic challenge, student-faculty interaction, and support for learners.
Active and Collaborative Learning: Students learn more when they are actively involved in their education and have opportunities to think about and apply what they are learning in different settings. Through collaborating with others to solve problems or master challenging content, students develop valuable skills that prepare them to deal with the kinds of situations and problems they will encounter in the workplace, the community, and their personal lives.(CCSSE, 2011)
Student Effort: Students’ behaviors contribute significantly to their learning and the likelihood that they will attain their educational goals. “Time on task” is a key variable, and there are a variety of settings and means through which students may apply themselves to the learning process. Eight survey items that indicate how frequently students engage in a number of activities important to their learning and success are associated with this benchmark.
Academic Challenge: Challenging intellectual and creative work is central to student learning and collegiate quality. Ten survey items address the nature and amount of assigned academic work, the complexity of cognitive tasks presented to students, and the standards faculty members use to evaluate student performance.
Faculty Student Interaction:In general, the more interaction students have with their teachers, the more likely they are to learn effectively and persist toward achievement of their educational goals. Personal interaction with faculty members strengthens students’ connections to the college and helps them focus on their academic progress. Working with an instructor on a project or serving with faculty members on a college committee lets students see first-hand how experts identify and solve practical problems. Through such interactions, faculty members become role models, mentors, and guides for continuous, lifelong learning.
Support for Learners:
Students perform better and are more satisfied at colleges that are committed to their success and cultivate positive working and social relationships among different groups on campus. Community college students also benefit from services targeted to assist them with academic and career planning, academic skill development, and other areas that may affect learning and retention. (CCSSE, 2011)