2008 Course Redesign Workshop Dates:
June 23-27, 2008
Combining Technology with Traditional Approaches
to Increase Success Rates in Beginning and Intermediate Algebra
- 2008 Workshop Agenda
- 2008 Workshop Materials and Resources
- 2008 Workshop Staff and Currently Registered Participants
Workshop Description:
Across the country, 40-45% of incoming college students place into pre-college-level math, and passing a first-year math course is frequently the strongest predictor of retention into the second year of college.
This workshop will provide the tools needed to adapt methods refined over the past three years in the UW-Stout Math Teaching and Learning Center that have decreased failure and withdrawal rates by more than 60% in our remedial Fundamentals of Algebra course and by over 30% in our Intermediate Algebra course. The Math TLC was commissioned in Fall 2004 to improve success rates in introductory math courses by combining technology with traditional classroom instruction and a new, targeted tutoring program. (For more on methods and results, see our online report.)
Funding from a U.S Department of Education FIPSE grant will cover all registration and workshop material costs; attendees will be responsible for travel, lodging and meal expenses. We expect to host 16-20 participants this summer, and we’ll be repeating the workshop in the two subsequent years. Priority for the 2008 workshop will be given to schools in the University of Wisconsin System and the Wisconsin Technical College System, but others will be accommodated as space is available.
The five day workshop will take participants through all the steps needed to set up pilot sections of Beginning and/or Intermediate Algebra courses using a hybrid format of online homework, regular in-class sessions, and targeted tutoring. Workshop sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily, with evenings open for work sessions and networking. Each participating school will also be assigned a liaison from the grant project team to serve as a direct contact for ongoing advice and troubleshooting during the pilot academic year.
How adaptable is a program developed at an all-laptop campus to one that doesn't require laptops for all students? Last year UW-River Falls ran pilot sections of their versions of each of these courses modeled after the Stout Math TLC approach, with outcomes so encouraging that all sections of both courses are now being taught using these methods.
For application information, contact Deb Sinz at sinzd@uwstout.edu
or at (715)232-5001
Travel and Accommodations:
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Materials from the July 2007 Workshop:
Held July 23-27, 2007 at UW-Stout, Menomonie, WI
2007 Workshop Materials and Resources
2007 Workshop Session Schedule
2007 Workshop Staff and Particpants
Outcomes Data Forms for 2007 Workshop, Due May 5, 2008
Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of Public Instruction :
"The new approach to teaching introductory mathematics being pioneered at UW-Stout effectively addresses a problem of urgent national significance, and I believe that this new program has great potential for adaptation by other schools in the University of Wisconsin System."
Terry Brown, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences UW-River Falls:
"We are deeply grateful for the support that Dr. Foley has given us at UWRF in helping us improve our mathematics program. I understand that one of the goals of the [FIPSE] project is to develop 'workshops to foster adoption and adaptation of the approach by other universities and colleges in the University of Wisconsin System.' Given Dr. Foley’s success in assisting us with our program, I can state without reservation that Dr. Foley has the commitment and skills necessary to fulfill this important aspect of the proposal. Dr. Foley’s grant proposal promises to enrich not just the UW-Stout campus, but the entire University of Wisconsin System."