Effective Strategies for Mathematics Course Improvement

S C O T T G E N T I L E S C O T T G E N T I L E G A T E W A Y L E C T U R E R , A S S E S S M E N T C O O R D I N A T O R , G A T E W A Y L E C T U R E R , A S S E S S M E N T C O O R D I N A T O R , A N D A N D C O M M O N C O R E C O U R S E C O M M O N C O R E C O U R S E C O O R D I N A T O R D E P A R T M E N T O F M A T H E M A T I C S A N D S T A T I S T I C S D E P A R T M E N T O F M A T H E M A T I C S A N D S T A T I S T I C S H U N T E R C O L L E G E O F T H E C I T Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W Y O R K H U N T E R C O L L E G E O F T H E C I T Y U N I V E R S I T Y O F N E W Y O R K C O O R D I N A T O R

GATEWAY COURSE STRUCTURE Math 101 (College Algebra) Math 125 (Precalculus) Math 150 (Calculus I) Courses Courses Common Syllabus , Grading System, and Homework (MyMathLab) Common Final Exam Standardization Standardization

DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES Council of Coordinators Council of Coordinators Biweekly Meetings to Discuss General Issues Meetings as Needed to Discuss Assessment Regular Oversight and Advisement of Adjunct Faculty Faculty Development Day Faculty Development Day Adjunct Faculty Trained by Coordinators Presentations on Issues Relevant to Teaching Presentations by Successful Faculty on Teaching Habits Review of Assessment Data and Results from Previous Semester

ASSESSMENT DATA COLLECTED Diagnostic Testing and Survey Diagnostic Testing and Survey Course Pass Rates Course Pass Rates Final Exam Scores and Pass Rates Final Exam Scores and Pass Rates Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes Analyzed Using Questions from the Final Exam

WEAKNESSES OF ONLINE HOMEWORK Poor with topics such as graphing, verifying Poor with topics such as graphing, verifying identities, and complex word problems. identities, and complex word problems. False sense of security due to too many False sense of security due to too many learning aids. learning aids. Lack of practice with offline written work Lack of practice with offline written work similar to a test environment. similar to a test environment.

SOLUTIONS TO WEAKNESSES Written Homework Written Homework Periodic Written Quizzes Periodic Written Quizzes Periodic Online Quizzes (with learning tools disabled) Periodic Online Quizzes (with learning tools disabled) Problem Sets Problem Sets \ \ Practice Exams Practice Exams Early Intervention Early Intervention

CHANGES TO PRECALCULUS (MATH 125) More MyMathLab Problems Assigned More MyMathLab Problems Assigned More Written Homework Collected More Written Homework Collected Graphing (Polynomials, Rational Functions, and Trig. Functions) Verifying Trig Identities Solving Trigonometric Equations Online Quizzes Introduced Online Quizzes Introduced Expanded Use of Problem Sets Expanded Use of Problem Sets \ \ Practice Exams Practice Exams Less Generous Grading System Implemented Less Generous Grading System Implemented

RESULTS: FALL 2010 VS. SPRING 2011 Math 125 Math 125 Fall 2010 Proficiency Rates Fall 2010 Proficiency Rates 1. Quadratic Optimization Problem 50% 2. Graphing a Rational Function 48% 3. Half Life Application Problem 57% 4. Trigonometry Application Problem (Law of Sines) 20% Math 125 Math 125 Spring 2011 Proficiency Rates Spring 2011 Proficiency Rates 1. Computing a Difference Quotient 80% 8. Graphing a Rational Function 62% 15. Verifying a Trigonometric Identity 59% 17. Solving a Trigonometric Equation (with Factoring) 56%

OTHER ASSESSMENT ACTIVITIES Calculus Calculus Results of Calculus Curriculum Change Comparison of Lecture and Hybrid Formats Diagnostic Exams Diagnostic Exams Math 100 / Math 102 (General Education / Math 100 / Math 102 (General Education / Liberal Arts Math Courses) Liberal Arts Math Courses) Standard Assessment Comparison of Lecture, Hybrid, and Online Formats