increasing student success: a journey of course redesign presented to course redesign workshop the...
TRANSCRIPT
Increasing Student Success: A Journey of Course
Redesign
Presented to
Course Redesign WorkshopThe Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa
Tucson, AZ October 27, 2007
Andreana M. GrimaldoAssistant Professor of Mathematics
Developmental Mathematics Coach
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, MA
www.qcc.mass.edu
Quinsigamond Community CollegeProfile
Established in 1963One of the 29 colleges and universities in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ system of public higher education
Open AdmissionsLocated in the city of Worcester (176,000 pop.) Offers 60 associate degree and certificate
programs, as well as non-credit options to over 6,600 day and evening students.
Diverse student population Ethnicity Age Socio-economic
QCC Math Department Faculty
10 full time faculty 55 - 60 adjunct faculty ~180 sections of mathematics
per semester ~100 sections of developmental
math per semester 80% taught by adjunct faculty
Course Times and Locations
Day class (traditional, computers) Night class (traditional, computers) Weekend (traditional, computers) Off campus (local high schools,
hospitals, nursing homes, correctional facilities, etc.)
Fast track Online
QCCStudent Profile
Average age: 27
50% Traditional Age
(18-22 years old)
46% Adult learners
4% Under 18 years of age
47% Full-time; 53% Part-time
24% Minority
60% Female
60% Day; 40% evening
97% from Worcester County
40% from Worcester
QCC Math Student Profile
85% test (CPT) into at least 1 level of developmental math
High level of math anxiety Long history of failure Poor math and study skills Overall - unprepared for college
level work
Course Redesign History
1999 Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community College Developmental Education Committee began the campus thinking of change
2001 – 2002 Numbers in Developmental Math began increasing
2001 QCC awarded $1.7 million, 5 year Title III grant
Challenges Large number of developmental math
sections Large number of part-time faculty Increasingly poor performance of students Inconsistent grading Inconsistent delivery of objectives Students with Individual Education Plans Strong union presence protecting
Academic Freedom
QCC Developmental Math Instructor Resource Manual
Departmental textbook selection Text specific manual Faculty created, piloted, edited Available in hard copy / electronic version Syllabus, semester outline, pacing, group
activities, homework, assessments, etc. Student centered instructional methods UDL-Universal Design of Learning
Departmental Final Exam
Institutional “pre-requisite” to next level course Face-to-face 30-question, multiple choice Use TestGen to generate multiple versions of
pencil/paper exam Passing score: 73% on final exam “Test the Test” – approx. 88% pass/fail
agreement rate
Technology Requirement
Fall 2007Course Descriptions contain:
“Technology tools will be utilized”.All textbooks have an access code
for online homework.
Developmental Math Coach
Faculty position focused on developmental math curriculum
Supported by administration with re-assigned time Plan and implement professional development Empower adjuncts and full-time faculty MyMathLab technology support Reflective practice sessions “Clearinghouse” for information Create, distribute and monitor final exams
Intermediate Algebra
Pilot 2002Baseline Pass Rate 54.5%75-80% Traditional classroomsUniform content and pacingRequired homework – computer
basedMandatory departmental final exam,
face-to-face, paper/pencil
Beginning Algebra
Pilot 2003Baseline Pass Rate 48.1%50% computer classroomsUniform content and pacingRequired homework – computer basedAccelerated pace is possibleMandatory departmental final exam, face-
to-face, paper/pencil
Basic Mathematics
Largest span of ability Pilot 2004Baseline Pass Rate 54.5%Flexibly structuredSelf-guided work (computer based or
hard copy)Mandatory departmental final exam,
face-to-face, paper/pencil
Pilot the Proposed Redesigned Courses (2002-2004)
Pass Rate: Based on final exam
grade of 73+ Intermediate Algebra: 58.9% Beginning Algebra: 74.2% Basic Math: 51%
MyMathLab
One of the first in New England to use (~2000)
Inconsistent application (2000-2004)
MyMathLab upgraded (2005) Fully embraced (2006)
Student Support
Math Learning Center56-seat learning center staffed by trained
math tutorsComputer or pencil/paper assistancePossible requirement
Harrington Learning Center60-seat computer labAll computers loaded with MyMathLabNo math tutors
Faculty Support
Center for Academic ExcellenceCurriculum WorkshopsTechnology TrainingReflective Practice Sessions
Institutionally Accepted
ALL courses use QCC’s Instructor Resource Manual
ALL courses follow the same format
ALL courses use technology ALL students access MyMathLab ALL students take final exam
Intermediate Algebra
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Baseline 54.50% 54.50% 54.50% 54.50%
Result 61.40% 67.00% 61.00% 60.00%
F03 F04 F05 F06
Beginning Algebra
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Baseline 48.10% 48.10% 48.10% 48.10%
Result 74.20% 69.00% 60.30% 62.00%
F03 F04 F05 F06
Basic Mathematics
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Baseline 54.50% 54.50% 54.50%
Result 67.00% 65.00% 60.00%
F04 F05 F06
College Algebra Results
40%
50%
60%
70%
ASSM 68.60% 61.80% 55.70%
Dev. Math 67.40% 66.00% 60.80%
2004 2005 2006
Overall ConclusionsLarge number of developmental math
sectionsLarge number of part-time facultyStudent performance has increasedStudent completion rate has increased Institutional expansion - consistency of
curriculum Increased enrollment per section – able to
manageHigher level of faculty collaboration and
camaraderie
Major Components to Success
Administrative support Faculty designed and implemented Individual instructors benefit by
change Atmosphere of professional
collaboration
Future Plans
Computerized departmental final exam
Continued atmosphere of collaboration and experimentation
Institutional laptop program . . . . . . . NEVER DONE!
Team Members Creation of Instructor Resource Manuals
– QCC Faculty -Andreana M. Grimaldo, Denise Robichaud, Steve Zona, Virginia Asadoorian, Carol Rinaldi, Elaine Previte
All Title III Data Analysis – Neena Verma, IR Director at QCC– Meredith Twombly, former IR Director at QCC
Pat Toney, Vice President of Academic Affairs
– [email protected] Zabka, Staff Assistant, Academic Affairs