Accelerated Math Pathways at Palomar College New math sequences compressed in time and/or units Presenters John Harland Wendy Metzger + Annette Squires Mark Clark Anne Voth ++ ++ STEM II Curriculum Coordinator + Math Curriculum Specialist
Presentation Outline Guiding Principles Summary of Accelerated Math Pathways Details of each Pathway Comparison with traditional pathways Content and Pedagogy Stats, successes and challenges Program Development Summary, Q&A
Guiding Principles Improve Student Learning and attainment of career/ academic goals, and address low success rates in pre-transfer math sequences At Palomar College, only 7% of 2011 cohort starting 3 levels below transfer level math passed a transfer level math course within 3 years (n=879) Incorporate best practices from CCRC Research and other institutions Prealgebra Curriculum Pre-Stats Acceleration Compression of algebra courses and calculus prerequisites Integrate Active Learning pedagogy Incorporate support services inside and outside classroom
New STEM II Math Curriculum Projects Fall 2012-present Prealgebra Redesign (not accelerated) Spring 2013-present Algebra for Statistics Fall 2013-present Algebra 2 N 1 Fall 2014-present Accelerated Pre/Beginning Algebra Accelerated Math Gateway (AMG)
Curriculum/Pedagogy Research Community College Resource Center (CCRC) Scaling Innovation Promising Practices Concepts of Numbers California Acceleration Project Adoption and Adaptation Framework Improving Pedagogy in the Developmental Mathematics Classroom-Recommendations Structured Student Collaboration Multiple Representations
Prealgebra Redesign Content/Pedagogy Curriculum: Concepts of Numbers for Arithmetic and Prealgebra, by Barbara Lontz CCRC Scaling Innovation promising practice Conceptual approach Active learning Truly different from what has been tried before Changes to traditional approach make sense History of Numbers Number Sense Organized by Operation rather than Sets
Prealgebra Redesign Successes and Challenges Successes 3 pilot sections in Fall 2012 Scaled up to 8-12 sections per semester (500+ students per year) Monthly professional development meetings Shared site with support materials Improved success rates Challenges Faculty turnover Large class sizes Wide range of student readiness Continued data analysis
Prealgebra Redesign Success Rates Pilot Fall 2012 Redesign Traditional 64% 55.6% n=111 n=591 Spring 2013 Redesign Traditional 64% 52% n=368 n=589
Accelerated Pre/Beginning Algebra 1 st Semester 2 nd Semester 3 rd Semester Traditional Sequence Intermediate Algebra Accelerated Pre/Beginning Algebra (6 units) Intermediate Algebra
Accel Pre/Beginning Algebra Content/Pedagogy 1 Intended for students whose placement scores are in the top half of those placing into Prealgebra Meets 6 hours per week Includes selected topics from Prealgebra (number sense, ratio, proportion and percent) plus all topics from Beginning Algebra Active learning is required by the COR Focus is on contextualized learning
Accel Pre/Beginning Algebra Embedded tutor Limited class size Content/Pedagogy 2 Address mindset rather than math anxiety Materials: using multiple resources such as Concepts of Numbers MATHCOUNTS Arlington Algebra Project Mathematics Assessment Project Adaptations of 3-Act Math, Would You Rather? and similar tasks Online textbook and many more
Accel Pre/Beg Algebra Example Temperature)Conversion) ) Thescreenshotsaboveshowtemperatures forcertaincitiesindegreescelsius( C)and degreesfahrenheit( F).Usethisinformation towritealinearequationtoconvertfrom degreescelsiustodegreesfahrenheit. Defineyourvariables: x= y= ) Graph) Table)of)Values) X Y PointstoGraph: (,) (,) (,) ) Explainwhateachpointrepresents. ) Equation) Write)your)equation: y=
Accel Pre/Beginning Algebra Stats, Successes, Challenges Fall 2014 Accel Pre/Beg Algebra (n=29) retention: 93% success rate: 69% Fall 2013 Beginning Algebra (n=1641) retention: 83% success rate: 50% Successes Favorable success rate compared to Beginning Algebra Community of learners Challenges Recruitment Developing appropriate materials Scaling up
Algebra for Statistics 1 st Semester 2 nd Semester 3 rd Semester Traditional Sequence Statistics Algebra for Statistics (6 units) Statistics
Algebra for Statistics Content/Pedagogy Developed with support from California Acceleration Project (CAP)-CCRC Scaling Innovation promising practice Topics include ratios, rates and proportions, dimensional analysis, variables and formulas, equations and patterns, linear and exponential functions, descriptive statistics, study skills Curriculum: Mat Lit, by Kathleen Almy and Heather Foes Contextualized conceptual approach Organized by cycles-units with a focus and possible project Group and individual activities, mini-lectures interspersed Online skills homework
Student Project Excerpts
Algebra for Statistics Student Response -I suck at math but in this class I don t feel that way. The only thing I don t like about this class is the amount of homework we get. I think it s too much. -I am a shy person but I think working on teams helps. -Working with groups is amazing. -I feel that this is the first math class I have the ability to pass my entire time in college. -The best thing is that the class shows how math is used in the real world. -I think this class gives a new experience to me to see math in a new way, an everyday way. It s refreshing and a breather from the traditional math.
Algebra for Statistics Successes and Challenges Successes 2 pilot sections in Spring 2013 2014-2015 academic year-6 sections per semester (350+ students per year) Students are engaged Improved success rates through Statistics course Challenges Teaching in a new way Structuring the learning environment/classroom culture Naysayers Communicating with Stakeholders
Algebra for Statistics Success Data Took Algebra for Statistics in Spring 2013 or Fall 2013 (n=209) Successfully completed Statistics within 1 year: 34% Successfully completed Statistics within 1½ year: 40% Took Beginning Algebra in Spring 2013 or Fall 2013 (n=3117) Successfully completed College Level Math within 1½ year: 9%
Algebra for Statistics College Persistence Table 1. Success, Retention and Persistence by Student Math Category Student Math Category Cohort Term Students Success Retention Returned 2012-13 Spring 64 64.1% 93.8% 90.6% Algebra for Stats 2013-14 Fall 145 77.9% 91.0% 91.7% 2013-14 Spring 158 72.8% 89.9% 82.3% 2012-13 Spring 1,476 47.0% 78.5% 73.8% Math 50 - Beginning 2013-14 Fall 1,641 50.0% 83.3% 81.8% Algebra 2013-14 Spring 1,368 48.2% 76.3% 70.5% Returned - took another class at Palomar College by Fall 2014.
AMG Accelerated Math Gateway Optional Semester 1 st Semester 2 nd Semester 3 rd Semester 4 th Semester Traditional S e q u e n c e Geometry Intermediate Algebra Trig Precalc Calculus 1 AMG AMG 1: Int Alg + Geom. + SI Lab (9 units) AMG 2 Trig + Precalc+ SI Lab (9 units) Calculus 1
AMG Content/Pedagogy Inspired by other successful programs in California Adopted from Santa Ana College Engineering Math 1 and 2 Developed by Dr. Cher Carrera for Bridge to Engineering Program at Santa Ana College Based on McDougal Littel s Integrated Math Sequence 1st Semester: intermediate alg + geometry, emphasis on similarity, coordinate, and transformational geometry. 2nd semester: trig+precalc Online resources though MyOpenMath Embedded tutors, student support specialist Active learning/discovery-based approach in the classroom and lab.
Integrated Projects AMG SI Lab Many adopted from SAC s Engineering Math 1 and 2 Park Proposal (Survey of resident wants and needs, Design, Budget for build and maintenance of a park) Investigation of sequences, series and Fractals PARK PROJECT
AMG SI Lab NSF ATE Math Modeling Labs Model a bouncing ball One good bounce How the bounces decrease in height Temperature scales Linear model for Celsius and Fahrenheit Solve the system of equations Walk the Curve Match the given curve using a motion detector Waves lab Slinky hands on Computer modeling of waves
AMG Stats, Successes, Challenges AMG 1, fall 2014: 100% retention, 75% pass rate (N=12) 50% of those students persisted to AMG 2 in spring 2015, 9 new students taken on Excellent engagement in class activities, homework assignments, use of STEM Center outside of class Challenges Recruiting Screening and orientation Assembling out-of-class resources Curriculum alignment Creating culture of active learners
Algebra 2 N 1 1 st Semester 2 nd Semester 3 rd Semester Traditional Sequence College-Level Math Alg 2 N 1 Beginning Alg+ Int. Alg + Topics Course + Study Skills (13 Units) College-Level Math
Algebra 2 N 1 Content/Pedagogy A blended combination of beginning and intermediate algebra topics. A collection of collaborative learning projects and activities are used to support concepts. The overlap in the two courses is eliminated. A combo book is being used. Example videos are used to allow additional time in class. (flipped classroom) A 1 unit math study skills class is done the first half of the semester. Embedded tutors, support the classes.
Algebra 2 N 1 Stats, Successes, Challenges Fall 2013 Fall 2014 (3 semesters): (N=68 ) 93% retention, Pass rate for both beg. and int. algebra 54%-59% (in one semester) Pass rate for beginning algebra 84%-89% Excellent engagement in class activities, homework assignments Challenges Recruiting Finding/writing activities and projects
Program Development Each pathway developed in teams Each team is headed by Stem II curriculum coordinator and includes curriculum specialist Total departmental involvement: 17 full-time (out of 29 total), 16 part-time faculty Topics courses used to pilot programs Coordination with all stakeholders Consensus building within math department Counseling Division dean, STEM II grant Student support services Research and Planning Other disciplines
Accelerated Pathways at Palomar College: Summary Fall 2012-present Prealgebra Redesign (not accelerated) Spring 2013-present Algebra for Statistics Fall 2013-present Algebra 2 N 1 Fall 2014-present Accelerated Pre/Beginning Algebra Accelerated Math Gateway (AMG)
Palomar College New Math Pathways Prealgebra Math15 Pre/Beginning Algebrafor Statistics Math54 Algebra2N1 Math 50/60/52A Algebra Math53 Beginning Algebra Math50 Intermediate Algebra Math60 NonFSTEM CollegeLevel Math STEM CollegeLevel Math