CASE STUDIES IN COURSE REDESIGN Using the Five Models

1. CASE STUDIES IN COURSE REDESIGNUsing the Five Models • Developmental Math at a University • College Composition at a Community College

2. FIVE PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESSFUL COURSE REDESIGN • #1: Redesign the whole course. • #2: Encourage active learning. • #3: Provide students with individualized assistance. • #4: Build in ongoing assessment and prompt (automated) feedback. • #5: Ensure sufficient time on task and monitor student progress. How would you embody these principles in your assigned model and case?

3. DEVELOPMENTAL MATHUniversity of AlabamaChallenges • No support for multiple learning styles • No flexibility in instructional pace • Lack of student success: D/F/W rates as high as 60% • Very high percentage of course repeats • Negative impact on student retention • Significant drain on resources

4. DEVELOPMENTAL MATHRedesign Plan • 30-minute group meetings weekly • 2.5 hours in lab or elsewhere working independently using interactive software • Practice problems and assessments covering defined learning objectives • Quizzes taken multiple times with immediate feedback • Tests available on demand with specified completion date • Instructors and tutors available in lab to provide individualized assistance

5. DEVELOPMENTAL MATHUniversity of Alabama

6. Traditional 22 sections (~35) each term 5 - 6 tenured faculty, 5 - 6 GTAs 3 one-hour lectures per week $122 cost-per-student Redesign Single section (1000 in the fall, 500 in the spring) 1 faculty coordinator, graduate assistants & undergraduate peer tutors 2.5 lab hours, 30 minute group work session weekly Computer lab open 70 hours (6 days) a week 24/7 online materials $86 cost-per-student DEVELOPMENTAL MATHUniversity of Alabama

7. Fall 1998 Fall 1999 Fall 2000 Fall 2001 Fall 2002 Fall 2003 Fall 2004 47.1% 40.6% 50.2% 60.5% 63.0% 78.9% 76.2% UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMASUCCESS RATES

8. COLLEGE COMPOSITIONTallahassee Community CollegeChallenges • Difficulty addressing individual needs of diverse student body with • Poor student success rates (<60% annually) • Heavy dependence on adjunct faculty leading to “course drift” • Considerable class time spent reviewing basic skills with less time to engage in writing • Low retention and poor transfer of skills to other disciplines

9. COLLEGE COMPOSITIONTallahassee Community College • Students meet in computer lab 1 - 3 times a week • Individualized programs of study with more time-on-task • SMARTHINKING used for feedback on writing assignments • More time for writing activities, conferencing, collaborative activities, critiques and discussion • More time to explore ideas and develop critical thinking skills • One-on-one and small group conferencing • Interactive learning resources available 24*7

10. Traditional 3000 students annually in sections of ~30 ~50% lecture ~50% discussion High inconsistency among sections High use of full-time faculty to help increase consistency $252 cost-per-student Redesign 3000 students annually in sections of ~30 Taught in computer labs Integrated writing and reading activities Menu of reading and writing activities Discussion board for peer collaboration SMARTHINKING tutors $145 cost-per-student COLLEGE COMPOSITIONTallahassee Community College

11. COLLEGE COMPOSITIONTallahassee Community CollegeOutcomes • Increased success rates (60.7% in traditional vs. 68.4% in redesign) • Increased time on task • Writing about literature • Increased communication and interaction about writing

12. FOR MORE INFORMATIONwww.theNCAT.org