Tutoring Services at CSUSM Presented by the Centers for Learning and Academic Support Services (CLASS)
How Learning Centers Help Students Encourage active learning Develop students understanding of how practitioners do their disciplines Provide human touch points for bewildered or disengaged students Provide authentic, credible evidence from peers of academic success and credible advice for being successful 2
What We ll Talk about Today Class levels/student circumstances served by each center Courses covered Process for service delivery Evidence of effectiveness Extras What you can tell your students about getting help at college 3
Our Learning Centers Language Learning Center Math Lab STEM Center Writing Center 4
The Language Learning Center www.csusm.edu/llc 5
Language Learning Center Most users are: Sophomores Transfers Taking a Foreign Language 6
LLC Courses Covered Most students are taking: Spanish 101, 102, 201, 202 Also: Spanish upper-division classes Other Languages taught at CSUSM American Sign Language (ASL) Community college/online classes NEW! Academic English tutoring: oral presentations, speaking, reading & listening skills 7
How the LLC Helps Language tutoring appointments Language tutoring drop-ins LOTER advising LOTER tests Also: Spanish Placement Exams Academic English Tutoring 8
The LLC Makes a Difference Spanish 201, 3 visits, Fall 2015: 89% Passed Course LOTER Proficiency Exams, Fall 2015: 19 Languages 65 Exams 97% Passed! Student: They're extremely helpful. They don't just give you the answer but make sure you understand the concept. Instructor: Individual attention helped a lot - with so many students in each section, faculty cannot always provide the attention and written feedback we used to be able to give. 9
LOTER: What You Might Like to Know Most Important: Language Other Than English Requirement (LOTER) to graduate from CSUSM. High school language classes do NOT meet it. Most Commonly-Chosen Options: Proficiency Exam (if 3+ years in HS or bilingual) 201 AP (esp. Spanish Lang.) Also: IB, CLEP, TOEFL, CC Language Class 10
The Math Lab www.csusm.edu/mathlab 11
The Math Lab offers help to CSUSM freshmen and sophomores, primarily Current students studying for standardized tests such as: CBEST CSET GRE High school seniors studying for the CSU entry-level math (ELM) placement exam. HS seniors can attend free ELM workshops: Fridays 2:30-5:00 in Kellogg 1109 12
Courses Covered MATH 10, 20, 30 All B4 (general education) math courses Select higher-level and specialized courses 13
Process for Delivering Help Drop-in tutoring (currently no appointments) Workshops Meeting place for professors office hours Study space for community building and forming study groups 14
Effectiveness of Math Lab 50 Math 160 Grades by ML Usage, Fall 2014 45 40 35 30 25 20 Used ML, Exempt (126) Didn't Use ML, Exempt (138) Used ML, Remed (35) Didn't Use ML, Remed (48) 15 10 5 0 A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F W WU ML usage correlates with better grades for both ELM-proficient and -remedial students 15
The STEM Center www.csusm.edu/stem 16
Students served by STEM Center Everyone from freshmen to seniors; majority of students are sophomores and juniors. Mainly serves science and mathematics majors; other students welcome if space available. Students come for reasons other than tutoring: Studying between classes, working in groups 17
STEM Center: Courses covered Examples of courses: CHEM 150, 160, 201, 202 PHYS 201, 202, 205, 206 CS 111, 211 (Computer Science) Mainly for science and math majors. Drop-in tutoring is available for specific gateway courses required for science and math degrees 18
STEM Center: Process for delivering help Drop-in tutoring only. Appointments not available. Open M-F for 35 hours per week Tutoring schedules for specific courses on Center s webpages or at front desk: www.csusm.edu/stem 19
STEM Center Impacts: Visitor Feedback STEM Center Visitor Survey Tutoring Satisfaction Ratings The tutors knew the material well. 71% Strongly Agree Agree 27% There were a lot of people every time I walked in, so it made it a great environment to work in groups. I was able to complete my assignments after receiving tutoring. 76% 22% The tutors are great and they help me understand the concepts extremely well. The tutors helped me understand concepts. My personal study habits have improved as a result of tutoring. 51% 73% 37% 24% Besides [the STEM Center] being helpful, it is a nice place to meet people who are interested in the things you like.
STEM Center Impacts: Faculty Testimonials The culture that the STEM Center has created is fantastic. Last year s CHEM 201/202 class scored a full letter grade above previous classes on the American Chemical Society exam, and well above the national average! Every 202 student passed with a C or better. That is remarkable. - CSUSM Chemistry Professor 21
The Writing Center www.csusm.edu/writingcenter 22
The Writing Center offers help to Freshmen (~ 60% of usage) All other levels, including master s students 23
Courses covered GEW 101 (first-year writing course, required of nearly all incoming freshmen) almost 50% of visits per semester All other courses on campus Personal statements and application essays 24
Process for delivering help Mostly by appointment Drop-ins welcome Skills and grammar workshops in Center and elsewhere on campus Visits to classes at instructors request 25
Evidence of how the Writing Center helps students 26
What high school counselors can tell students about getting help at college Successful people in all walks of life ask for help Learning Centers are not remedial : They help each student at his/her own level Centers are also social: Students learn good study habits from peers and can make friends! Many people on campus can point students to academic assistance: professors, academic advisors, EOP, TRiO/SSS and other counselors 27