marsha dowell, phd, senior vice chancellor warren carson, phd, associate vice chancellor deryle...
TRANSCRIPT
Foundational Issues for Course Redesign and AlignmentMarsha Dowell, PhD, Senior Vice Chancellor
Warren Carson, PhD, Associate Vice Chancellor Deryle Hope, PhD, Associate Director, International Studies
Cherie Pressley, Director , Upstate Regional Education Center
BeginningsFall 2004—Freshman CompositionAppointment of a Director of CompositionReview of Institutional Assessment DataAnecdotal evidence—the degree of success in
English 101 and English 102
Strategies for Course RevisionCourse Audit—30 sections of English 101,
taught by 15 different instructors, using 15 different course syllabi of varying quality (AP)
Development of claims and evidence (AP; NAEP)
Formalized conversations and work sessions with English faculty from the largest feeder high schools
Strategies, continuedEfforts to align courses (EPIC), thereby
helping to remove the disconnect between HS achievement and college success
Mandatory professional development retreats each semester for ALL composition faculty
OutcomesBetter sense of where HS curriculum ends
and where the University curriculum beginsA collaborative spirit among HS and
University faculty members that focuses on transition to college and student success
A shift away from a teaching-focused approach to a more learning-focused approach to writing instruction
Outcomes, continuedA common course syllabus for the English
101-102 sequenceA scoring rubric to encourage more
consistent gradingGreater focus on best practices in writing
assessmentNew placement model
Outcomes, continuedReduction in the percentage of DFW grades
in English 101-102Pilot dual enrollment courses in English 101-
102
What is the Scholars Academy?
An accelerated high school option located on the USC Upstate campus
Open to rising 9th graders in all Spartanburg school districts
Students remain as home high school students but spend half-day at the university
Students can earn up 60-70 college credits in 4 years along with a HS diploma
SC SCHOOL DISTRICT MAP
Daily Schedule8:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
3 classes each day MWF, T Th
Honors/AP/Dual Credit
(college credit)
12-12:30 p.m. Lunch at USC Upstate
12:30 p.m. Return to home schoolTake at least one class
there.Participate in extra-
curriculars.
Requirements
Maintain As & Bs in all coursesBegin as a ninth grade studentCommit to graduate the program Be self-motivated, academically giftedHave parent support
Current Facts
Cohort 1: graduated 20 studentsCohort 2: 11 rising seniorsCohort 3: 24 rising juniorsCohort 4: 32 rising sophomoresCohort 5: 40 rising freshmen
Experience with 127 students in a variety of courses
FallAlgebra II Honors/Geometry
HonorsEnglish II Honors (yr.-long)US History 105 (dual credit)
Freshman Seminar (CP elective yr.-long)
SpringGeometry Honors/Precalculus
126English II HonorsUS History106 (dual credit) Physical Science 101 (dual
credit)Freshman Seminar
Freshman
FallPrecalculus 126/127 (dual credit)Biology 101 (dual credit)English III HonorsSophomore Seminar
SpringPrecalculus 127/Calculus 141(dual
credit)World History 101(dual credit)AP English Language and
Composition Sophomore Seminar
Sophomore
FallEnglish 102 (dual credit)
Calculus 141 or AP Calculus (dual credit)Chemistry 111 or Astronomy 111 (dual credit)
German 101 (dual credit)University Singers (dual credit) SpringAP English LiteratureCalculus 142 or AP Calculus (dual credit)
Biology 102 or Chemistry 106 (dual credit)Foreign Language or Economics (dual credit)University Singers (dual credit
Juniors
Students are generally unprepared
Students need interventions:Study sessions with designated Cohort partners and upper class Academy peer coachesPeer tutoring from university studentsGroup help/study sessions provided by professorsExtra coaching provided by Academy instructorsMath lab/writing lab access
Findings
Interventions are most effective after an “awakening”:
First failing grade on a test or paperProbationary status or loss of scholarship/ program status
Findings, continued
Principles for improving the transition from high
school to college Academic
Shift from memorization to understanding
Focus on critical thinking Higher standards of
acceptable work Students assume
responsibility to learn from written texts
Develop metacognitive strategies
Student engagement Technology On-going research activities
Socio - emotional
Realistic self-awareness of what it takes to be successful in college
Set priorities Self-discipline Be intellectually curious Take initiative Persevere and be resilient Need support systems Be flexible and adaptable Overcome fear and doubt Need a sense of
accomplishment Need validation and sense of
belonging
• Motivated students who take advantage of interventions improve.
• Students who understand consequences tend to improve.
•Certain course parameters facilitate success.
•Early student success breeds success.
Observations