 |
 |
Susan, Thanks for the comments. Did you develop the self-paced pre-algebra course yourself, or did you use or adapt a commercially available product? Geoff Krader Math Instructor Morton College Cicero, IL 60804 >From: Susan Jones <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Open Forum for Learning Assistance Professionals ><[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Re: Intersession developmental math review course >Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:09:34 -0500 > >We have done that with English - developed fewer-credit modules which >fill in the gaps. We're exploring that kind of option in Math. > >One thing we did this semester that was extremely successful was to >have a somewhat self-paced version of the 4-credit Pre-Algebra course. >Many people in it were repeaters who had really struggled and others >were "almost-made-it" students. By making it self-paced, there was an >almost tangible transition of goals from assignment completion to >assingment comprehension. As a result, some students finished the two >credits in mid-semester. None are trying to complete the course until >next semester, though, because each of them has a reason to need or want >a reduction in workload. The pass rate looks like it's going to be 17 >out of 20 of the original enrollees, with a goodly dose of A's and B's. > > >Susan Jones >Academic Development Specialist >Academic Development Center >Parkland College >Champaign, IL 61821 >[log in to unmask] >Webmastress, >http://www.resourceroom.net > > >>> Geoffrey Krader <[log in to unmask]> 10/27/06 1:51 PM >>> >I am hoping that I could tap your collective experience to help us with >a >program we are planning to trial in January. > >At Morton College, there are two developmental algebra courses >(Elementary >and Intermediate Algebra). Each course is a semester in length. >Students >may place into either course (or a lower level Basic Mathematics >course). >Students enrolled in Elementary Algebra who do not pass that course >must >retake the entire course and complete it successfully before enrolling >in >the Intermediate course. That delays their entry into Intermediate >Algebra >-- and college-level math -- by an entire semester. > >For students who did very poorly in Elementary Algebra, retaking the >course >seems to be the appropriate course of action. However, we believe that >some >students -- those who came "close" to passing -- might succeed in >Intermediate Algebra if they could take a short remedial course between > >semesters to address the deficiencies that prevented them from passing >the >course in the first place. If they pass the intersession course, they >would >be able to enroll in Intermediate Algebra during the following semester >as >if they had passed Elementary Algebra in the first place. The >intersession >course would be by invitation only (i.e., instructors would identify >students who might benefit from this course). Depending on the number >of >students (we are a relatively small community college), the topics >covered >might even be tailored to specific students' needs rather than follow a > >rigid syllabus. > >We are planning to run this course for the first time during the first >half >of January, before the start of the Spring semester. We would run the > >course again during the first half of August, before the start of the >fall >semester. I was wondering if any of you have experience with similar >ideas, >comments on this idea, or other ideas that address the same set of >issues. >If you do, I would appreciate hearing from you. > >Thanks, >Geoff Krader >Mathematics Instructor >Morton College >Cicero, IL 60804 > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your >subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web >browser to >http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html > >To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask] > >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your >subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web >browser to >http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html > >To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To access the LRNASST-L archives or User Guide, or to change your subscription options (including subscribe/unsubscribe), point your web browser to http://www.lists.ufl.edu/archives/lrnasst-l.html To contact the LRNASST-L owner, email [log in to unmask]