Transcript Strategies for Success Lynn Marecek MaryAnne Anthony Santa Ana College

Strategies for Success
CMC^3
December 2009
Lynn Marecek
MaryAnne Anthony
Santa Ana College
If they only knew………
…what it takes to be successful!
What skills do you want your students to have
as they enter your classroom?
Take a Pro-active Approach
We can either grumble….
….OR we can do something about it!
We believe math content is not 100%
of a developmental course!
California Basic Skills Initiative
Effective Practice D2
D2.4 Developmental courses/programs
implement effective curricula and practices
for development of study skills.
AMATYC Standards
The curriculum of developmental
mathematics programs should…
Develop students’ study skills…
to enable them to be successful
in other courses and in their
careers.
Beyond Crossroads page 41
Strategies for Success
Activities to develop study skills
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Goal setting
Organization
Successful student behavior
Homework skills
Test preparation
Self-evaluation
Integral part of coursework
History of this project
Recognized strong need in our lowest level
courses
Developed pieces over teaching career
Shared often with other faculty
Funded partially by
Basic Skills Initiative
Student Success Innovation Grant
Incorporating into our upcoming textbooks
Basic Goals for Faculty
Make each activity easy for teacher
to use confidently
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Needs little preparation
Gives background information
Is easy to grade
Integrate strategies into course
without using much class time
Basic Goals for Students
Activities encourage:
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active student engagement
constant self-reflection
student insights – they usually ‘get it’
without teacher input
Activities provide value from
time spent
Activities are easy to do
California Basic Skills Initiative
Effective Practice D1
D1.1 Developmental education focuses on
self-directed learning, with students engaged
in actively assessing and monitoring their
own motivation and learning.
Group Work
Each group has a different activity
Each person in the group should fill out
the worksheet as if you were a student
Group discussion
Group Feedback
What did you like best about your
worksheet?
How could you use this worksheet?
Other comments?
Teacher Support
Teacher page for each Strategy
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rationale
directions for use
suggestions for timing in the course
Teachers can seamlessly
incorporate study skills in classes
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easily
confidently
Basic Skills Initiative
Strategies For Success Cohort
Spring 2009
5 Santa Ana College math teachers
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1 full time
4 part time
Courses
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Basic Math
Prealgebra
Intermediate Algebra
Strategies For Success Cohort
Project Components
Integration of Strategies for Success
worksheets into math classes
Monthly cohort meetings of teachers
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Introduced worksheets
Explained classroom implementation
Highlighted timing sequence in course
Shared and debriefed
Pre-test/post-test
Final Report
Data Collection
Pre-test/Post-test
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Mathematics Study Skills: Diagnostic
Inventory (BSI “poppy copy” chapter 9, appendix 3)
Pre-test given before use of any
worksheets
Post-test given at end of course
Paired data
Quantitative Results
Sample size
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6 classes
n=109 students
(matched pre-test/post-test)
Post-test scores > pre-test scores ?
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t= -1.025, p-value=.154
significant difference for two classes
 n=26,
p-value=.060
 n=22, p-value=.017
 most experienced teachers in cohort
Observations
Importance of ongoing faculty development
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Explained nuts and bolts of implementation
Provided support and reassurance
Built confidence and camaraderie
Gave a broader perspective
Pre-test needs more introduction
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Students should take it seriously
Students do not see relevance at first
Teacher Comments
“These activities really set the students up for
success.”
“Students [had] ‘aha’ moments where they
realized they had more control over their
education than they thought.”
“I knew what some of their “issues”
were and how I could best help them
in class”
Teacher Comments
“… are vital for students just beginning their
study of math.”
“Even did some in my other classes because
I liked them so much. ”
“It gave me insight into my students”
“I definitely plan to use these next
semester.”
Student Comments
What was the best part of these activities?
 “These study skills are great! Not only for math but for
all other classes”
“You had a chance to really challenge your goals and
achieve your dreams”
“They help you think about what you really
want and why we are here”
“It helped me understand my weaknesses
and my strengths”
Student Comments
……. the best part of these activities?
“You get to see how you work & what things can be
done differently to get you to better yourself”
“They helped my brain to work better, smarter”
“It made us realize it by writing it down”
“It prepared you ahead of time”
“It helps you evaluate yourself”
“Setting a positive mind-frame for life”
Student Comments
….. the best part of these activities?
“Being able to work with other people”
“Shows you what you need to improve on”
“That you believe in yourself that you really can pass
this class”
“They help you understand”
“Helped more on the homework”
“It helped get me ready for the test”
“That you were concerned, cared”
Student Comments
What was the worst part of these activities?
“Sometimes, I couldn’t get the answer”
“I didn’t like them because I had to work”
“Time consuming but made me think.”
“Maybe study too much”
Strategies for Success
Syllabus Search
Notebook Preparation
Autobiography
Goals
Successful Student Behavior
On Time and Ready to Go!
Homework Skills
Test Preparation
Test Stress Reduction
Test Taking Skills
Post Test Check up
Test Analysis
Mid-semester Check up
Reward Yourself!
Teacher Resources
For a copy of
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this presentation
the Strategies for Success packet
For more information
Email:
[email protected]
[email protected]