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 2N1

�  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

1st Semester 2nd Semester 3rd Semester

Traditional Sequence Intermediate Algebra

Intermediate Algebra

Accelerated Pre/Beginning

Algebra

(6 units)

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 Content/Pedagogy 2

�  Embedded tutor

�  Limited class size

�  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

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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 1st Semester 2nd Semester 3rd Semester

Traditional Sequence Statistics

Statistics

Algebra for

Statistics

(6 units)

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

Returned - took another class at Palomar College by Fall 2014.

Student Math Category Students Success Retention Returned2012-13 Spring 64 64.1% 93.8% 90.6%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%2013-14 Fall 1,641 50.0% 83.3% 81.8%2013-14 Spring 1,368 48.2% 76.3% 70.5%

Math 50 - Beginning Algebra

Table 1. Success, Retention and Persistence by Student Math CategoryCohort Term

Algebra for Stats

AMG Accelerated Math Gateway

Optional Semester

1st Semester

2nd Semester

3rd Semester

4th Semester

Tr a d i t i o n a l S e q u e n c e

Calculus 1

AMG

Calculus 1

Geometry Intermediate Algebra Trig Precalc

AMG 1:

Int Alg +

Geom. +

SI Lab

(9 units)

AMG 2

Trig +

Precalc+

SI Lab

(9 units)

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.

AMG SI Lab �  Integrated Projects 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 2N1 1st Semester 2nd Semester 3rd Semester

Traditional Sequence College-Level Math

College-Level Math

Alg 2N1

Beginning Alg+ Int. Alg +

Topics Course +

Study Skills

(13 Units)

Algebra 2N1 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 2N1 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 2N1

�  Fall 2014-present �  Accelerated Pre/Beginning Algebra �  Accelerated Math Gateway (AMG)

Palomar College New Math

Pathways

!

Prealgebra!

Math!15!

!

Algebra!for!Statistics!

Math!54!

Algebra!2N1!

Math!50/60/52A!

Pre/Beginning!

Algebra!

Math!53!

!

Beginning!

Algebra!

Math!50!

Intermediate!Algebra!

Math!60!

STEM!!

College!Level!Math!

NonFSTEM!

College!Level!Math!