119_20102011 Innovation Project:Math Boot Camp

2010-2011 Innovation
Project:
Math Boot Camp
Patti Barnes
Pat Suess, Ph.D.


Project Scope - 1
The purpose of this project was to provide
an intensive review of the basic concepts
in Prealgebra (MTH:020) for recent high
school graduates who have taken an
advanced mathematics course (Algebra II
or higher) in high school and yet have
placed into MTH:020 on the STLCC
placement test.


Project Scope - 2
At the conclusion of the Math Boot Camp
the students were allowed to retest and
then be placed into the appropriate course,
hopefully eliminating or reducing the need
for developmental coursework.


Project Highlights - 1
 4-day, 1.12 CE credits (3.5 hours each day)
 Workshop format
 Pre-test: identified student’s areas of
weakness

 Mini-lectures on 4 core topics:





Fractions
Decimals
Percents and proportions
Solving equations


Project Highlights - 2
 Individualized skill-building and problemsolving practice
 Mastery-level testing
 Post-test: placement test retake
 Student eligibility:
 Graduated from high school in previous 18
months
 Completed Algebra II or higher in high school
 Scored between 26 and 59 on the Arithmetic
portion of the STLCC placement test


Project Team
 Project Coordinator: Patti Barnes, Manager
of Asssessment, FV
 Faculty Leader: Pat Suess, Chair of
Mathematics Department, FV
 Faculty Participants:

 John Elliott, MC
 Evelyn Corich, FP
 Anne Marie Mosher, FV


Project Tasks Completed - 1
 Pre-test and mastery test instrument
identified – MyMathTest
 Topics and delivery schedule developed
 Bridges to Elementary Algebra (MTH:027)
materials were reviewed
 Format, sequence of topics, method(s) of
instruction determined


Project Tasks Completed - 2
 Pre-test and individualized mastery-level
tests were refined
 Skill-building and problem-solving practice
sets were reviewed and edited
 Instructional materials were revised
 A detailed/daily schedule of topics was
created
 Student workbooks were compiled and
printed for each session


Project Tasks Completed - 3
 The student recruitment plan was finalized
 Assessment and advising managers at each

campus were asked to assist in recruiting
participants
 Prospect identification questions were added
to the math placement test at each campus
 Continuing Education scheduled a pilot
course session at each campus
 600 eligible students received follow-up
notices


Results - 1
 15 students were registered for each Math Boot
Camp (with 28 students on wait lists)
 2 students cancelled their registration
 45 students actually attended the four sessions
 Boot Camp sessions were scheduled during
July:

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FP 7/11 – 7/14 @ 12:30 – 4:00 pm
MC 7/11 – 7/14 @ 5:30 – 9:00 pm
FV 7/18 – 7/21 @ 1:00 – 4:30 pm
WW /25 – 7/28 @ 5:30 – 9:00 pm


Results - 2
 The student registration fee was $25

 8 students applied for scholarships to
cover the registration fee
 Gift cards for STLCC bookstores were given
to participants who completed the program


Results - 3
 2 students did not meet the entrance
qualifications
 29 of the 43 qualified students moved out
of MTH:020





3 placed into MTH:040
17 placed into MTH:030
8 placed into MTH:140
1 placed into MTH:160


Results – 4(Eligibility)
Campus

Number of Students Meeting
Eligibility Requirements*

Florissant Valley

209

Forest Park

180

Meramec

324

Wildwood

22

Harrison Center

35

*Students tested between March 1 and June 22, 2011.


Results – 5(Final Placement)
Course Placement
MTH 020 Pre Algebra (no
change)
MTH 040 Elementary
Algebra and Basic Math

Number of students
14 (32.6%)

3 (7.0%)

MTH 030 Elementary
Algebra

17 (39.5%)

MTH 140 Intermediate
Algebra

8 (18.6%)

MTH 160 College Algebra

1 (2.3%)


Recommendations - 1
 Expand Math Boot Camp to include multiple
face-to-face summer sessions at each campus
 Keep the enrollment capacity at 15 per
session
 Continue to offer the program through
Continuing Education (not a majority opinion)
 Develop a 60-minute train-the-trainer
program to help adjunct instructors prepare to
teach Math Boot Camp sessions


Recommendations - 2

 Continue to use MyMathTest for pretesting, mastery-level testing, and
individualized student practice
 Align the MyMathTest components with
COMPASS (includes more topics in the
Prealgebra section than Accuplacer)
 Revise/reduce the student workbook
materials


Recommendations - 3
 Pilot self-directed sessions:
 Students would follow a customized set of
directions to manage their own instruction
 A retest appointment would be scheduled
upon registration
 Package student materials and MyMathTest
access codes for sale in STLCC bookstores

 Expand the program to include review
materials for Elementary Algebra (aligned
with COMPASS)


Thank you!
Any Questions