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College Algebra Course Redesign Evolution or Revolution? The process of change…. Tammy Muhs - University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida [email protected]. Motivation for Redesign. College Algebra: Annual enrollment approximately 4,000 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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42510011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011
College Algebra Course Redesign
Evolution or Revolution?The process of change….
Tammy Muhs-University of Central FloridaOrlando, Florida
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0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011Motivation for Redesign
College Algebra: Annual enrollment approximately 4,000
Why did we consider a mathematics course redesign? – Success Rates: Pass rates were down,
withdrawal rates were up– Space Concerns: Too many students, not
enough classrooms– Budget Concerns: We needed to do more, with
less
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Redesign GoalsIncrease learning outcomes and success rates while decreasing cost and withdrawal rates.– Create a student-centered learning environment– Students spend one hour in class where they review
concepts from the previous week, highlight upcoming material, and receive administration information
– Students spend a required three hours in the lab Mathematical Assistance and Learning Lab (MALL)
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Mathematical Assistance and Learning Lab (MALL)
From Renovation to CompletionPhase I - 95 computers (Spring 2010)
Phase II - 100 computers (Summer 2010)Phase III - 120 computers (Fall 2010)
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Instructional Assistance in the MALL
• Peer tutors, undergraduate and graduate mathematics students work in the lab– Peer and undergraduate tutors paid $8 per hour– Graduate tutors (not GTAs) paid $12 per hour– Required to complete online homework– Become test proctors during testing weeks– Tutor training about 14 hours a semester
• College Reading & Learning Association International Tutor Program Certification
• Top GTAs are called Mentors – Meet with teaching team weekly– Communicate with students– Hold seminars and test reviews– Help with classroom management
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0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011Online Testing in the MALL
• Test Scheduling System (Testing Cal- Pearson Custom Product)– Scheduling is open for a week, students have multiple time and day
options available, they receive automatically generated reminder emails
– Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Finite Math, and Explorations in Math (enrollment up to 4,500 per semester)
• Testing is completed online in a proctored environment using a password system (MyMathLab)
– Immediate feedback– Bluebook system to assign computers and scratch paper– Free response questions, multiple choice, or combination– Challenge week for formatting errors– Integrity violations almost non-existent– Print Cost savings (College Algebra tests in 2007-08 cost more than
$7000)
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Redesign Pilot Fall 2008Decreased cost from $70 to $49 per studentFull implementation as of spring 2010
Final Exam scores
Fall 2006Total course
Fall 2008Pilot Sections
Mean score 63.4% 80.6%Standard deviation 18.9% 15.3%Number of students who took the common final exam 1277 802
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Presidents Class Size Initiative (PCSI)
• Provided support for Instructors and Lecturers to work in the MALL in addition to the peer tutors, graduate tutors, and GTAs
• Created Small Within Large Class Environment• Students register in sections of 19 students • Between 16 and 20 of these sections meet
together once per week in a large lecture hall– Sections form both an in-class and virtual
community• Communication has been shown to have an important role in
learning and understanding mathematics (Knuth & Peressini, 2001)
Course Grade Distribution and Final Exam Scores
Summer 2009 Traditional Section n=226 students
Summer 2009 Redesigned Sections n=162 students
Fall 2009 Traditional Sections n=851 students
Fall 2009Redesigned Sections n=1174 students
Success Rate 61.5% 75.3% 72.3% 78.4%
A 11.9% 20.4% 28.7% 27.9%
B 26.1% 36.4% 26.8% 34.1%
C 23.5% 18.5% 16.8% 16.4%
NC (no credit)
10.6% 2.5%9.3% 0.7%
F 18.1% 9.9% 13.9% 14.7%
W 9.7% 12.3% 4.6% 6.2%
Mean Score 71.0% 77.5% 78.2% 80.4%StandardDeviation 15.9% 13.9% 16.3% 14.0%
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0011 0010 1010 1101 0001 0100 1011Future Work and Conclusions
• Producing favorable results – Increasing the number of students advised by
mentors and faculty– Improving student learning outcomes– Increasing course offerings
• Intermediate Algebra starting fall 2010• Precalculus starting spring 2011
• Future studies– Look at retention and graduation rates– Look at success in later courses (STEM)