Martha E. Casazza

Behind the hallowed walls of higher education are students who did not grow up expecting to attend college, students who walked through open doors not knowing what to expect on the other side. For some, these open doors became revolving doors, and they simply gave up. For many others, however, there were unexpected successes, successes that included more than academic accomplishments. These people came through the system with an increased sense of self-confidence that empowered them in the world beyond college. This oral history tells the story of the struggles as well as of the triumphs related to the fight for access and high quality in higher education. Thus, it provides a unique look at the past state of higher education, and at the measures that might be taken to improve our future educational system. The book begins with a brief historical overview of what access to higher education looked like before the 20th century. Following chapters tell the actual stories and are organized around four themes: the power of belief in students; access with success; institutional commitment; and effective support systems. Finally, a set of recommendations is provided that will help to keep the doors open for those still wishing to enter. Educators at all levels, graduate students studying higher education, and interested readers in the general public will all find this book an invaluable resource.

"The authors pull off an impressive double. They synthesize an enormous amount of relevant research on learning and development while also making clear the connections this research has for practice. Written in a helpful and accessible style, and full of case studies, applications, instruments, and vignettes of practice, the book will be an invaluable resource for college teachers at any level."--Stephen Brookfield, Distinguished Professor, University of St. Thomas "Effectively integrating the perspectives of a director of a university learning assistance center and a scholar in the area of developmental education, Silverman and Casazza have written an important book. It should be read by anyone concerned with the academic success of the increasingly diverse population of undergraduates in colleges and universities."--Ernest Pascarella, Petersen Professor of Higher Education, University of Iowa Comprehensive yet easy to follow, Learning and Development is designed to help faculty, student affairs professionals, and other educators understand how students learn and what they can do to foster student achievement. Sharon Silverman and Martha Casazza reveal how diverse developmental needs--such as lack of self-esteem or cultural alienation--can be at the root of a student's learning difficulties. They draw from the latest theory and research to explore the critical connection between learning and development in six key areas: (1) self and identity; (2) motivation; (3) interaction with the environment; (4) ways of knowing; (5) learning styles and preferences; and (6) self-regulation and goal setting. The authors also present six case studies to show how educators can assess and resolve learning problems while enriching and advancing their own teaching expertise. Written in clear, nontechnical language, Learning and Development provides useful, systematic approaches for making connections between teaching and learning.