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Comp I Studio at Massasoit

Comp I Studio is Massasoit’s corequisite learning model based on ALP, a proven approach to developmental learning that has helped thousands of students nationally.  ALP (Accelerated Learning Program) was developed by the Community College of Baltimore County, Maryland.

In Comp I Studio, students take ENGL101 English Composition I and an additional support course, ENGL098 Reading and Writing Studio. Both courses are taught by the same instructor, specially trained in teaching methods to support students’ needs.

How does ENGL098 Reading and Writing Studio as developmental course
differ from a traditional developmental course?

 The goal of a traditional developmental course is for students to pass the developmental course.

  • The goal of ENGL 098 Reading and Writing Studio as a developmental course is
    for students to pass the first-year composition course.

 According to the Lumina Foundation’s Complete College America initiative, “corequisite remediation is doubling and tripling gateway college course success in half the time or better. In corequisite remediation, students enroll directly into college-level courses and receive academic support alongside their regular classes.”

ENGL098 Reading and Writing Studio as co-requisite support for ENGL101 English Comp I takes the place of the following stand-alone courses:

  • ENGL091 Prep for College Reading I
  • ENGL092 Prep for College Reading II
  • ENGL099 Introductory Writing

Note: Reading and writing are now integrated into one course, ENGL098.

How long has Comp I Studio been an option for students at Massasoit?

ENGL 098 Reading and Writing Studio as a corequisite to ENGL 101 English Composition I was piloted in spring 2022 and is part of the curriculum as of Fall 2022

What are the benefits for students in ENGL098, as a corequisite support course? 

  • Students can focus on critical reading, writing and thinking in a small cohort of no more than 14 students
  • Allows for more individual attention
  • Allows for dealing with non-cognitive issues
  • Allows students with developmental placements in writing and reading to enroll in a credit Composition course, eliminating “exit points” for students
  • Emphasizes active learning, reasoning skills, engaged reading, and effective editing skills

How are peer embedded tutors part of Comp I Studio?

 Instructors may choose be paired with a Massasoit student who has been trained by the Writing Center to support student learning in ENGL098 as a peer embedded tutor.

How are faculty trained to teach Comp I Studio?

 Faculty participate in a 20 hour self-paced training that offers the following:

  • a pedagogical focus on integrated reading and writing (IRW) strategies and activities to promote metacognitive awareness of their own reading process (through annotating talk-to-text, think alouds, etc).
  • recursiveness to build and strengthen skills needed in Comp I
  • guidance and models for creating aligned course assignment schedules so that ENGL098 fully complements ENGL101 in terms of topics, themes, and skill support

What are students saying about ENGL 098?

  • “The most helpful thing is that whatever we didn’t understand in ENGLISH 101 we can ask more questions about in ENGLISH 098”
  • “…this subject helps me to improve my skills in writing and grammar and help[s]me to increase my reading comprehension.”
  • “The professor because she’s always doing things to help us understand better.”
  • “It’s much easier to ask questions in this class or have my teacher read over my work. I also love having [the embedded tutor] in the classroom. It’s nice to have two people to help me with any questions or concerns I may have.

What are faculty saying about ENGL 098?

  • “Students need the extra individual attention and support.”
  • “[ENGL098 provides] Extra time for skill reinforcement and reading
    analysis”
  • “The Studio class provides students with an opportunity to both understand readings and assignments with more depth ask questions.”
  • “I do more scaffolding in ENGL098. I break larger tasks into smaller tasks and have students work on all ENGL101 assignments in ENGL098. We also write weekly response journals to the novel.  I find that by doing the smaller shorter assignments, they improve their writing, thinking, and reading.  Every semester 3-4 of the students that began in ENGL098 have gone on to ENGL102 Honors and have done well.”
  • “I really feel like the students get to know me and each other. We build connections with each other and feel a part of a community. I love the additional time to meet with students and give feedback.

What are peer embedded tutors saying about ENGL 098?

 “I have learned so much and really adapted to classroom situations. If there’s another opportunity of working with this professor again as an embedded tutor, I would love to do it again.”

  • “I loved this experience and I’m hoping I can do it again. I’d definitely recommend this experience to other peer tutors”

“It was fun and helping the students is fulfilling.”