PAC Student Media

By Samantha Celeste Esparza
Pulse Staff Reporter

EDUC 1300: Learning Framework is a course designed to ensure the long-term success of a college student. Some students believe that this course should not be a requirement for incoming students. Other students and faculty find this course helpful and believe it’s important to their education.

This course includes information on how to teach students learning theories, motivations behind learning, scholarship guidance, and application of learned skills to real-world settings.

Some students believe that the course was helpful but did not find the length of 15 weeks necessary.

“It was nice to have but shouldn’t be required or you shouldn’t have to pay for it,” said Nick Tran, a sophomore Biology major.

The cost of the class falls under Palo Alto’s general flat rate payment plan depending on how many hours a student decides to take. The class costs $220 for an in-district student taking 12 hours of courses. The book used in the course, “Student Success in College: Doing What Works!” by Christine B. Harrington, costs $68.25.

EDUC 1300 is required for all first year students or students with 15 hours of college-level courses. It is part of the Liberal Arts course curriculum at Palo Alto. The class is not a replacement for a Humanities course, as some students previously thought. The class is not difficult and does not affect the workload in students’ other courses.

“We really didn’t have all that much work in class, mostly hands-on activities and notes,” said Jonathan Casanova, a freshman Business Administration major.

As a community college, Palo Alto offers refresher courses to help incoming students. EDUC 1300 follows a similar curriculum.

Similar classes are required for students facing academic probation or academic suspension. Courses like EDUC 1300 are available at colleges and universities all around the country.

“Research has shown that those students that are engaged in their campus during their first year have a better chance of success beyond that,” said Dr. Daniel Rodriguez, professor of EDUC and SDEV at Palo Alto College. Rodriguez said most colleges only look at statistics, not the connections and relationships that students make in college.

All students learn differently; this course explores various learning styles. It teaches students where to go if they have questions or concerns about their academics or issues regarding college life.

“I thought that it was beneficial. Especially as a first-timer in college, but having that class serve as a sort of reassurance, made it easier,” said Sarah Lopez, a sophomore Journalism major.

Ultimately, students should decide for themselves if they need to take the course. Students who know that they struggle with poor time management and procrastination will find the course beneficial.

Implementation of this course caused controversy in the past with faculty members of the Alamo Colleges with the course receiving opposition from the faculty at Northwest Vista College.