Emporium Model for Intermediate Algebra

Department of MathematicsThe University of Southern

MississippiHattiesburg, MS

• Approximately 1,100 students per year.

• Traditional course size of 40–60 students per section.

• Goals of redesign - Eliminate course drift. - Eliminate duplication of effort. - Cost savings.• Status – Pilot phase with all

sections using the emporium model.

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Initial Planning

• Began investigating course redesign in Fall 2006 as suggested by our Dean, Rex Gandy, and our Chair, C.S. Chen.

• Visited successful math course redesign sites such as U. of Alabama, U. of Idaho, Virginia Tech, and LSU to glean ideas.

• Began offering emporium model courses on a limited basis in Spring 2007.

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Initial Planning

• Developmental math committee met to design course and prepare materials.

• Computer lab with 60 PC’s capable of serving 660 students per semester.

• Students not attending required 3 hours of lab sessions per week. Started requiring students to take quizzes in the lab in hopes that they would then take advantage of the other available services while there.

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Institutional Support• Strong institutional support at all

levels. • IHL Initiative with NCAT to fund 15

redesign projects at 8 universities. • With support from the Provost’s

office, Southern Miss received funding for projects in 6 subject areas including this project.

• In 2006, repurposed space to create the current math lab with 60 PC’s.

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Institutional Support• Will open a new lab with 150 PC’s by

2010. Remodeling of new space part of state bond issue. Had planned for Fall 2009 opening.

• Extra space needed because redesign of College Algebra also in the works.

• Pre-requisites instituted in 2007 were in violation of IHL policy. Southern Miss a leader in getting change in IHL policy.

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Alternate Staffing• Instructors of record primarily

graduate students and adjunct or visiting instructors.

• Frees permanent instructors to teach other freshman level courses.

• Lab staffed with combination of instructors, graduate students, and undergraduate peers.

• Minimum requirement for tutors is successful completion of Calculus II.

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Alternate Staffing• Minimal training of instructors and staff.• This semester we are creating handouts to

help instructors stay focused on main topics during the 1 hour meeting per week.

• Staff are given computer accounts so that they are familiar with the MyMathLab software and materials being covered.

• Creating problem book of exercises that students find difficult along with ideas for tutors on how to help students understand.