Math Open Entry Program Pikes Peak Community College Results from Summer, 2010

Open-Entry Math ProgramPikes Peak Community CollegeSummer and Fall 2010Open-Entry Math ProgramPikes Peak Community CollegeSummer and Fall 2010

Marilyn Frydrych

PPCC College Prep Math Faculty

Four campuses in metropolitan Colorado Springs

About 20,000 students

About 3,600 college prep math students

The Web-based program MyMathLab used inregular college prep math classes

Pikes Peak Community CollegePikes Peak Community College

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The mission of the Open-Entry Mathprogram is to provide a learningenvironment where students takingcollege prep courses at Pikes PeakCommunity College, and havingweak math skills, can advance attheir own pace; and where studentsneeding to refresh their mathskills can move forward tocomplete two or three courses in onesemester. It provides an alternativechoice to the regular mathclassroom.

MissionMission

Open-Entry Math ObjectivesOpen-Entry Math Objectives

Service a fraction of the college prepmath students

Provide an alternative learningenvironment for students unproductive intheir regular classrooms.

Provide an opportunity for students whohave taken the material previously to fasttrack through the courses.

 Started two years ago

 Students start as soon as they register.

Three possible start dates for eachcourse

• Serves less than 10% of math students

•Meets math faculty demands of retainingPPCC math standards

Open-Entry Math Open-Entry Math

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 Serves only college prep classes

◦ Basic Math

◦ Pre-Algebra

◦ Elementary Algebra

◦ Intermediate Algebra

Uses the Web-based program ALEKS

 Meets MTWTh

Requires students to sign contract promisingto adhere to syllabus

Requires students to reach 95% in ALEKS

Open-Entry Math (Continued)Open-Entry Math (Continued)

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ALEKS ObservationsALEKS Observations

A self-paced course is better for somestudents than a regular class.

ALEKS’ strength is that it offers

◦Only work that students are ready to handle

◦Review

◦Repetition

Observations (Continued)Observations (Continued)

ALEKS builds math egos

Motivated students fly through courses.

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Answers students’ questions

 Teaches new instructors

Markets the Open-Entryprogram

Implements improvements

 Handles paperwork

Assesses how well Open-Entry meetsobjectives of its mission statement

Open-Entry Coordinator Open-Entry Coordinator

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Three Types of Students Enrolling in Open-EntryThree Types of Students Enrolling in Open-Entry

Transfers from regular math classes

Students starting first day of semester

Students starting as late start students

Three Types (Continued)Three Types (Continued)

Transfers from regular math classes

◦Directed to Open-Entry byregular class instructors

◦Recommended bycounselors andadvisors.

◦Targeted byposters

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Three Types (Continued)Three Types (Continued)

Students starting first day of semester

◦Returning ALEKS students

◦Last minute students

Often have no idea what Open-Entry is.

Often procrastinators who belong in Open-Entry

Sometimes transfer out into a regular math class.

Often, on the first day, returning studentspersuade new students to stay in the class.

Students Starting as late start students

(not transferring from a regular class)

◦Troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan

◦High school students

◦Home-schooled students

Three Types (Continued)Three Types (Continued)

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Student CostsStudent Costs

Regular registration costs and ALEKS codefees for non-transfers

Transferring students: cost of ALEKS code

No book fee (e-book available in ALEKS)

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How Classes Are Builtinto College SystemHow Classes Are Builtinto College System

Five classes on two campuses and twomore on a third campus

Many sections for each class

4 math courses in eachclassroom

Multiple start-dateoptions for each course

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How ClassesAre Built (Continued)How ClassesAre Built (Continued)

Must transfer from

o Full semester class into full semester class

o Late start class into late start class

o Third trimester class into third trimester class

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Classroom FormatClassroom Format

Maximum classroom enrollment limited toavailable computers: 20 – 35

ALEKS used with PC’s or laptops (ovens)

No lectures. Tutor runs the class.

Classroom Format (Continued)Classroom Format (Continued)

Fast track students (10%) mixed withothers

Students work ALEKS problems inrequired notebooks

◦Formatting

◦Vocabulary lists

◦Formula lists

◦No chicken scratching

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Classroom Format (Continued)Classroom Format (Continued)

Some students prepare for tests in class.

1 hour 15 minutes classes

 Tried 2 hours and 1 hour

◦Had huge enrollment increasesso can no longer do 2 hours

◦1 hour too short

•Instructors use “Time and Topic” to focuson who needs help.

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TestsTests

PPCC has very high math standards withdifficult tests

Open-Entry students take the same testsas students in regular classrooms.

Only one chance per test

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Tests (Continued)Tests (Continued)

Three prong attack

1. Paper practice tests familiarize studentswith

◦Format of PPCC tests

◦Vocabulary on tests

◦Level of difficulty of tests

2. Explanations and problems from E-book

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Tests (Continued)Tests (Continued)

3. One ALEKS quiz before each test

◦Can be taken unlimited times

◦Placed under “homework” button sostudents can control start time

Most tests taken in a testing center (classperiod too short)

Final taken after reaching 95% in ALEKS

Tests (Continued)Tests (Continued)

•Instructors determine if students readyfor tests

◦ Go over practice tests with

student

◦ Check that quizzes are done

Instructors work one-on-one

with test corrections

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PPCC’s Use of ALEKSPPCC’s Use of ALEKS

We integrate ALEKS with

Miller/O'Neill /Hyde texts.

◦ALEKS upgrades Miller, etc. first.

◦Must match chapter content of PPCC’s textswith course content available in Miller, etc.

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PPCC’s Use of ALEKS (Continued)PPCC’s Use of ALEKS (Continued)

We use the Gradebook.

We use Quicktables.

We use Homework for our quizzes.

We set expiration date of chapters

◦Two weeks after the end of the

◦semester.

◦One day after the other.

$C:\Documents and Settings\mfrydrych\My Documents\My Pictures\Quicktables character from ALEKS.com.gif$

Self-PacedSelf-Paced

•ALEKS individualizes each student’sprogress through assessments.

•Within the first week, students schedulehow many topics they must cover eachweek to finish

•Students take 15 to 200 hours to reach100% in ALEKS.

•Some students with long-term memorychallenges take a year or more per class.

“Self-Paced” (Continued)“Self-Paced” (Continued)

•Up to three courses

have been completed

in one semester.

•33% do little or no

homework and so

don’t finish.

GradesGrades

Given at the end of thesemester

 No incompletes

 For a student taking morethan one course in a semester

◦First grade withheld untilsecond course is finishedexcept for the final

◦If second course not finished,no grade.

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ALEKS ObservationsALEKS Observations

A self-paced course is better for somestudents than a regular class.

ALEKS’ strength is that it offers

◦Only work that students are ready to handle

◦Review

◦Repetition

Observations (Continued)Observations (Continued)

ALEKS builds math egos

Motivated students fly through courses.

$C:\Documents and Settings\mfrydrych\My Documents\My Pictures\school_kids_group by phillip martin.gif$

What’s In Progress? We are:What’s In Progress? We are:

◦Trying to implement modules within each class

◦Trying to find ways to motivate outside classwork

◦Trying to minimize administrative overhead

◦Trying to link all five classes so banner knowswhen the classes are full

◦Trying to incorporate guest speakers addressingstudy skills and test anxiety twice a month.

Open-Entry Math ObjectivesOpen-Entry Math Objectives

Service a small fraction of the collegeprep math students

Provide an alternative learningenvironment for students unproductive intheir regular classrooms.

Provide an opportunity for students whohave taken the material previously to fasttrack through the courses.

MissionMission

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

I would like to acknowledge those companieswho have provided free downloads of clipart.

◦Discoveryeducation.com

◦clipartElek.com

◦Phillip Martin

◦free-clipart-picture.net

◦Clipartheaven

◦openclipart.org