““QR at Wellesley College”QR at Wellesley College”

Corri Taylor, DirectorCorri Taylor, DirectorQuantitative Reasoning ProgramQuantitative Reasoning Program

TimelineTimeline

1990:1990: Faculty express concerns about Faculty express concerns about students’ QR skillsstudents’ QR skills

1991:1991: First pilot QR assessment First pilot QR assessment administered in 3 coursesadministered in 3 courses

1992-96:1992-96: Trial years of assessmentTrial years of assessment

1997:1997: Assessment given for real!Assessment given for real!

Two-part QR requirement Two-part QR requirement begins begins and continues to this day.and continues to this day.

Two-part QR RequirementTwo-part QR Requirement

1.1. QR Basic Skills RequirementQR Basic Skills Requirement (FY) – (FY) –Pass QR Assessment (18 open-ended Pass QR Assessment (18 open-ended questions – samples in book on NNN Web questions – samples in book on NNN Web site) site) oror pass Basic Skills Course in first year pass Basic Skills Course in first year

2.2. QR Overlay RequirementQR Overlay Requirement (Any year)– (Any year)–Take a designated QR-overlay course that Take a designated QR-overlay course that emphasizes the analysis of data in a specific emphasizes the analysis of data in a specific discipline. (Note: this rqmt is in addition to discipline. (Note: this rqmt is in addition to our Mathematical Modeling Rqmt.)our Mathematical Modeling Rqmt.)

The QR AssessmentThe QR Assessment

Study packet sent in Study packet sent in summer summer Administered during Administered during OrientationOrientationTest is 90 minutes; 18 Test is 90 minutes; 18 questions; 9.5 to passquestions; 9.5 to passMost questions are Most questions are NOT multiple-guessNOT multiple-guessNo calculators No calculators allowedallowed

Sample Assessment QuestionSample Assessment Question

Summer sublets tend to Summer sublets tend to be expensive in the be expensive in the Cambridge area. This Cambridge area. This table from a local housing table from a local housing office advertises the office advertises the monthly rental costs for monthly rental costs for two-bedroom apartments. two-bedroom apartments. For example, the table For example, the table indicates that there are indicates that there are six apartments available six apartments available for $1200/month. Use the for $1200/month. Use the table to answer the table to answer the following questions.following questions.

2

8

6

3

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

$1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,400

Rent per monthN

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Assessment Question ContinuedAssessment Question Continued

1.1. What percentage of What percentage of these apartments these apartments sublet for more than sublet for more than $1,200 per month? $1,200 per month?

2.2. What is the mean What is the mean (average) monthly (average) monthly rent for a two-rent for a two-bedroom apartment?bedroom apartment?

2

8

6

3

1

0

2

4

6

8

10

$1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,400

Rent per month

Num

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f Apa

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Intro to QR CourseIntro to QR Course

Lectures and computer labs (mainly using Excel)Lectures and computer labs (mainly using Excel)Emphasis on practical uses of logic, math, statisticsEmphasis on practical uses of logic, math, statisticsoften with QR skills taught “just-in-time”often with QR skills taught “just-in-time”Topics include:Topics include:** Education dataEducation data** US demographicsUS demographics** Astronomically large to microscopically small – aAstronomically large to microscopically small – a physical sense of spacephysical sense of space** Personal financePersonal financeUsing & Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Using & Understanding Mathematics: A Quantitative Reasoning ApproachReasoning Approach, by Bennett & Briggs, by Bennett & Briggs

QR Overlay Courses in….QR Overlay Courses in….

AstronomyAstronomy

BiologyBiology

ChemistryChemistry

Computer SciencesComputer Sciences

GeologyGeology

MathematicsMathematics

PhysicsPhysics

EconomicsEconomics

EducationEducation

PhilosophyPhilosophy

Political SciencePolitical Science

PsychologyPsychology

andand

SociologySociology

““Celebrating QR Connections”Celebrating QR Connections”Series at Wellesley CollegeSeries at Wellesley College

QR & Art QR & Art ((Spring 2004Spring 2004))

QR & Biology QR & Biology ((Fall 2005Fall 2005))

QR & Forensic Evidence QR & Forensic Evidence ((Spring 2007Spring 2007))

QR, Polling & Predictions QR, Polling & Predictions ((Fall 2008Fall 2008))

QR & Women’s Health (QR & Women’s Health (Spring 2010Spring 2010))QR & Sustainability QR & Sustainability (Fall 2011)(Fall 2011)

Three or four lectures in each series….Three or four lectures in each series….

Assessing How We’re DoingAssessing How We’re Doing

- Student Attitude Assessment – developed at Student Attitude Assessment – developed at Dartmouth – on four scales: utility, personal Dartmouth – on four scales: utility, personal growth, ability, interestgrowth, ability, interest

- Pre- and Post- Assessments of SkillsPre- and Post- Assessments of Skills- OIR analyses and surveys on course-taking OIR analyses and surveys on course-taking

behaviorbehavior- New study: “Regression discontinuity analysis” – New study: “Regression discontinuity analysis” –

examines students at margin on QR assessmentexamines students at margin on QR assessment- QuIRK rubric tested on sample papersQuIRK rubric tested on sample papers- Continuous feedback from quantitative faculty Continuous feedback from quantitative faculty