Strategies for Success CMC^3 December 2009 Lynn Marecek MaryAnne Anthony Santa Ana College

Strategies for Success

CMC^3December 2009

Lynn MarecekMaryAnne AnthonySanta Ana College

If they only knew………

…what it takes to be successful!

What skills do you want your students to have as they enter your classroom?

Take a Pro-active Approach

We can either grumble…. ….OR we can do something about it!

We believe math content is not 100% of a developmental course!

California Basic Skills Initiative

Effective Practice D2D2.4 Developmental courses/programs implement effective curricula and practices for development of study skills.

AMATYC Standards

The curriculum of developmental mathematics programs should…Develop students’ study skills…

to enable them to be successful in other courses and in their careers.

Beyond Crossroads page 41

Strategies for SuccessActivities to develop study skills Goal setting Organization Successful student behavior Homework skills Test preparation Self-evaluation

Integral part of coursework

History of this project

Recognized strong need in our lowest level coursesDeveloped pieces over teaching careerShared often with other facultyFunded partially by

Basic Skills Initiative Student Success Innovation Grant

Incorporating into our upcoming textbooks

Basic Goals for Faculty

Make each activity easy for teacher to use confidently Needs little preparation Gives background information Is easy to grade

Integrate strategies into course without using much class time

Basic Goals for StudentsActivities encourage: active student engagement constant self-reflection student insights – they usually ‘get it’

without teacher input

Activities provide value from time spent

Activities are easy to do

California Basic Skills Initiative

Effective Practice D1D1.1 Developmental education focuses on self-directed learning, with students engaged in actively assessing and monitoring their own motivation and learning.

Group Work

Each group has a different activity

Each person in the group should fill out the worksheet as if you were a student

Group discussion

Group Feedback

What did you like best about your worksheet?

How could you use this worksheet?

Other comments?

Teacher Support

Teacher page for each Strategy rationale directions for use suggestions for timing in the course

Teachers can seamlessly incorporate study skills in classes

easily confidently

Basic Skills InitiativeStrategies For Success Cohort

Spring 2009 5 Santa Ana College math teachers 1 full time 4 part time

Courses Basic Math Prealgebra Intermediate Algebra

Strategies For Success CohortProject Components

Integration of Strategies for Success worksheets into math classesMonthly cohort meetings of teachers Introduced worksheets Explained classroom implementation Highlighted timing sequence in course Shared and debriefed

Pre-test/post-test Final Report

Data Collection

Pre-test/Post-test Mathematics Study Skills: Diagnostic

Inventory (BSI “poppy copy” chapter 9, appendix 3)

Pre-test given before use of any worksheets

Post-test given at end of course Paired data

Quantitative Results

Sample size 6 classes n=109 students (matched pre-test/post-test)

Post-test scores > pre-test scores ? t= -1.025, p-value=.154 significant difference for two classes

n=26, p-value=.060 n=22, p-value=.017 most experienced teachers in cohort

Observations

Importance of ongoing faculty development Explained nuts and bolts of implementation Provided support and reassurance Built confidence and camaraderie Gave a broader perspective

Pre-test needs more introduction Students should take it seriously Students do not see relevance at first

Teacher Comments

“These activities really set the students up for success.”

“Students [had] ‘aha’ moments where they realized they had more control over their education than they thought.”

“I knew what some of their “issues”

were and how I could best help them

in class”

Teacher Comments

“… are vital for students just beginning their study of math.”

“Even did some in my other classes because I liked them so much. ”

“It gave me insight into my students” 

“I definitely plan to use these next

semester.”

Student CommentsWhat was the best part of these

activities?“These study skills are great!  Not only for math but for all

other classes”“You had a chance to really challenge your goals and achieve your dreams”“They help you think about what you really

want and why we are here”“It helped me understand my weaknesses

and my strengths”

Student Comments……. the best part of these activities?

“You get to see how you work & what things can be done differently to get you to better yourself”“They helped my brain to work better, smarter”“It made us realize it by writing it down”“It prepared you ahead of time”“It helps you evaluate yourself”“Setting a positive mind-frame for life”

Student Comments….. the best part of these activities?

“Being able to work with other people”“Shows you what you need to improve on”“That you believe in yourself that you really can pass this class”“They help you understand”“Helped more on the homework”“It helped get me ready for the test”“That you were concerned, cared”

Student CommentsWhat was the worst part of these activities?

“Sometimes, I couldn’t get the answer”

“I didn’t like them because I had to work”

“Time consuming but made me think.”

“Maybe study too much”

Strategies for SuccessSyllabus SearchNotebook Preparation AutobiographyGoalsSuccessful Student BehaviorOn Time and Ready to Go!Homework SkillsTest PreparationTest Stress ReductionTest Taking SkillsPost Test Check upTest AnalysisMid-semester Check upReward Yourself!

Teacher Resources

For a copy of this presentation the Strategies for Success packet

For more information

Email:marecek_lynn@sac.edu

anthony_maryanne@sac.edu