Forward and “Backwards” Design of a Mathematics Co-Requisite

Barbara KirkwoodDonna Krampe

Ivy Tech Community College-Southwest Region

Co-requisite Questions

• Why a Co-requisite?• How do you develop one?• Does it work?• Do students see the benefit?

Ivy Tech Community College-Southwest Region

• Two-year public college• Statewide system-14 Regions• Commuter population• Our region—5539 students• Open enrollment • 70% referred to remedial math

Why a Co-Requisite?• Low success in prerequisite courses• No credits for remedial work• Do not enroll in college-level course• Reevaluating funding• Topics are better aligned• Provides just-in-time remediation

Cost of a calculator

$12.99

Cost of textbook

$192.25

Passing two Math courses in the same semester:

Priceless!!

Co-Requisite CoursesMATH 080

Mathematics Principles with

AlgebraDevelopmental

MATH 118Concepts in Mathematics

College-level

“Backwards” Design• Brainstorm prerequisite skills • Created activities/lessons for just-in-time

remediation• Remedial class 1-2 days ahead• Activities schedule listed topics for both

MATH 080 Activities ScheduleWeek

& Dates

Introduction of 080 Topics

Review of 118 Topics

RequiredMyMathLab Assignments

For MATH 080

Learning ObjectiveNumbers

Week 11/13 – 1/17

IntroductionOrganizational Topics Section 5.2-Integer operations

Measurement 9.1, 9.2 1, 4, 12, 13,

Section 5.2 -Integers & Order of Operations

Review for Chapter 9 Exam

Section 5.2 1, 2, 4, 13

Week 21/21 – 1/27

Section 6.1- Algebraic Expressions

Set Theory 2.1, 2.2, 2.3

Section 6.1 Binder Check

3, 14

Quiz 1-Integers and Algebraic ExpressionsSection 6.2- Solving One Step Equations.

Review for Chapter 2 Exam

Section 6.2a5, 14

Collaboration with College-Level Faculty

• Rearranged the college-level topics• Shared syllabi• Used same textbook for both classes• Communicated often• Access to college-level exams

Methods of Evaluation

• No Tests!!• 8 Quizzes• Homework assignments• Binder Checks• Participation Points

Assignments

• MyMathLab for fundamental skills• No longer than 10-12 minutes• Required to show written solutions • Handouts-created or online• Generated quizzes immediately

Incorporating Activities

• Appealed to different learning styles• Worked in groups• Embraced the activities• Developed activities for graphing,

probability and statistics• Practiced calculator skills

Probability Activity

I’m packing for a trip to visit my

daughter in Colorado.

Probability Activity

How many different outfits can you make if you have the following?

3 2 2 = 12 shirts pants shoes outfits

X X

First Day of Class

• Explained how co-requisite works• Student’s responsibility to ask questions • Supplied list for binder • Stressed importance of organization and

taking notes

A Typical Day in MATH 080

• Answered questions• Demonstrated MyMathLab • Mini lectures over remedial topics• Previewed college-level topics• Quiz or activity

Study Parameters

• Four semesters• First two semesters-sections were not

linked• Last two semesters-sections were linked

Do co-requisites work?

Only 22.3% complete remediation and college-level courses in two years

Do co-requisites work?

Only 22.3% of community college students complete remedial and associated college-level courses in two years.-Complete College America, 2012

Successful Completion of College-Level Course

Co-Requisite College-Ready

45.1% 55.4%

A B C D F FW W0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Co-Requisite College-Ready

Final Grade

Perc

ent C

ompl

etion

Successful Completion of College-Level Course

Successful Completion of College-Level Course

A B C D F FW W

Co-RequisiteStudents (n = 233)

15.0% 15.9% 14.2% 6.0% 4.7% 33.0% 11.2%

College-ReadyStudents (n = 750)

16.0% 20.3% 19.1% 9.9% 4.1% 19.6% 11.1%

Successful Completion for Co-Requisite Students

Total Sections Not Connected

SectionsConnected

Connected and Same Instructor

45.1%(n = 233)

36.2%(n = 113)

53.4%(n = 120)

77.5%(n = 40)

Moving Forward

• Course sections linked • 12 remedial, 12 college-level • Same teacher for both courses• Collaboration between instructors• Refine materials • Train faculty/adjuncts

Informal Survey

• Open-ended • First semester, week 11• Anonymous• Recommend the co-requisite • Increase in self-confidence

Self-Efficacy Study

• Five question Likert-type survey• Anonymous • Administered twice, weeks 1 and 9• Compared results• Improved self-efficacy

Results of Self-Efficacy SurveysStrongly

AgreeAgree Neutral Disagree Strongly

DisagreeResponse

Mean

1) I feel confident in my ability to solve math problems in this class.

18%(13)

26%(19)

39%(28)

11%(8)

6%(4) 3.57

40%(17)

33% (14)

24%(10)

2%(1)

0%(0)

4.12

2) I can complete my math homework without a lot of help.

10%(7)

32%(23)

33%(24)

17%(12)

8%(6) 3.18

21%(9)

55%(23)

17%(7)

5%(2)

2%(1) 3.88

3) In math classes, I can typically understand the material a teacher is covering.

7%(5)

36%(26)

32%(23)

18%(13)

7%(5) 3.18

43%(18)

40%(17)

17%(7)

0%(0)

0%(0) 4.26

4) I can master the skills being taught in math class.

6%(4)

41%(29)

36%(26)

13%(9)

6%(4) 3.28

48%(20)

36%(15)

14%(6)

2%(1)

0%(0) 4.29

5) I feel confident enough to ask questions in math class.

31%(22)

41%(30)

17%(12)

11%(8)

0%(0) 3.92

69%(29)

24%(10)

5%(2)

2%(1)

0%(0) 4.55

In Their Own WordsHow did taking both classes together change the way you studied math?• I found myself taking more notes in each class and

referring back to them when I studied.• Since I don’t get frustrated with it, I am willing to

spend more time on my studying.• It made me immerse myself in math.• Made me more confident and I love math now

Citations

Blitzer,R.,(2011). Thinking Mathematically, 5th edition. Pearson Education, Inc.

Complete College America. (2012). Remediation: Higher education’s bridge to nowhere.

http://www.completecollege.org/docs/CCA-Remediation-final.pdf

.

Contact InformationBarbara Kirkwood-Associate Professor, Mathematicsbkirkwood2@ivytech.edu

Donna S. Krampe-Assistant Professor, Mathematicsdkrampe@ivytech.edu

PowerPoint Available athttp://nadeconferencereview.wikispaces.com/

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