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Practical and Workable Ideas for Learning Communities

Practical and Workable Ideas for Learning Communities. Julie Phelps, Achieving the Dream ( AtD ) Project Director & Professor, Mathematics Christy Cheney, College-wide Coordinator of Learning in Communities ( LinC ) & Professor, Student Success.

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Practical and Workable Ideas for Learning Communities

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  1. Practical and Workable Ideas for Learning Communities Julie Phelps, Achieving the Dream (AtD) Project Director & Professor, Mathematics Christy Cheney, College-wide Coordinator of Learning in Communities (LinC) & Professor, Student Success

  2. Valencia Community College now has four major campuses, two academic and administrative centers, and two more major campuses in the planning stages. Criminal Justice Institute Osceola Campus East Campus Sand Lake Center Winter Park Campus West Campus

  3. Overview of Presentation • Strategic Planning • Initial Data analysis 2000-2005 • 3 Gaps Indentified in Success Rates • Targeted Courses, Implementation Timeline & Participation #s • Closing the Gaps • Supplemental Learning (SL) • Learning in Communities (LinC) • Wrap-up

  4. Gaps in Student Achievementas Identified by Valencia for AtD Gap 1.Between under prepared and college- ready students Gap 2. Between racial and ethnic groups Gap 3. Between success rates in math courses and success rates in other discipline courses

  5. Gap 1: Progression and Completion rates are lower for under prepared students (Fall 2000) Fall 2000 FTIC Students n = 3741 n = 966 n = 2775

  6. Gap 1: Progression and Completion rates are lower for under prepared students (Fall 2006) Fall 2006 FTIC Students n = 4011 n = 758 n = 2575

  7. Gap 2: Hispanics and African Americans fall below other groups; Asians lead

  8. Gap 2: Hispanics and African Americans fall below other groups; Asians lead Progression Rates by Ethnicity FTIC Under Prepared Students – Fall 2006

  9. Gap 3: Math courses dominate the list of 10 courses with lowest success rates

  10. Gap 3: Math has high enrollment and low success rates

  11. Developmental Pre-Algebra Beginning Algebra Intermediate Algebra Gateway College Algebra Freshman Comp I U.S. Government AtD Targeted Courses

  12. Strategy Implementation Timeline 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 Phase I Supplemental Learning MAT 0012, 0024, 1033 ENC 1101, POS 2041, MAC 1105 Phase II Linked SLS Course (LinC) SLSLinC w/ MAT 0012, 0024, 1033 & w/ ENC 1101, POS 2041, MAC1105 as option Phase III Linked Interdisciplinary Courses (LinC) ENC1101, POS2041,MAC1105 w/ Other Courses Phase IV Required SLS Enrollment 3Prep Course Mandates 2Prep Course Mandate Under Review

  13. Participants: Spring 2006-2009 • 34, 223 students (Goal was 25,285) • 1,497 class sections • 820 faculty and staff (duplicated headcount)

  14. Annual Student ParticipationFTIC Degree-Seeking **Note: Year 05-06 includes Spring and Summer only. Year 08-09 includes Fall and Spring only.

  15. Closing the Gaps • Overall, success in the 6 Gateway courses increased by 3% from 2004 to 2008. • Success gaps between African American and Caucasian students closed from 13.4% in 2004 to 3.6% in 2008. • Success gaps between Hispanic students and Caucasian students closed from 1.8% in 2004 to Hispanic students having higher success rates than Caucasian students by 4% in 2008.

  16. Activity # 1 • Based upon hearing about the Valencia experience, what did your data suggest as a starting point?

  17. Learning in Community (LinC)www.valenciacc.edu/linc Two professors and a success coach collaborate to combine the content of two courses with integrated learning outcomes and activities. Students enroll in both courses at the same time.

  18. LinC Organization • Coordination • Collegewide Coordinator • 3 Campus Coordinators • Success Coach Coordinator • Recruiting and Training Faculty/Success Coach • LinC Mixers • Destination • Recruiting Students • Student Services Staff • Orientations • Business Process Analysis (BPA) Timeline • Research Proposal

  19. Atd Strategies: LinC courses • LinC courses: Students enrolled in LinC courses complete the courses with a grade of C or better at higher rates compared to non-Linc courses. • This effect is greater for Hispanic and African American students.

  20. Learning in Community (LinC) Research Report • Students who enrolled in LinC courses successfully completed the courses at higher rates than students in the same courses that were not LinC’d (10.4%) • This effect was even greater for Hispanic (11.9%) and African-American (11.6%) students • The greatest effect was in math courses, particularly developmental courses

  21. LinC Research ReportPersistence • On average, students in LinC courses showed higher persistence in the next term which diminished the term after that and increased over the next 2 terms • Each cohort has a different pattern of persistence (needs more time to study)

  22. LinC Research ReportStudent Focus Groups • Expressed enthusiasm for relationship building with faculty and peers • Described the courses as engaging, good pace and interesting and found it was easier to ask questions • Cited specific academic and life skills they gained • Developed connections with college resources

  23. LinC Research ReportFaculty Discussion Groups • Changes in teaching practice included increased confidence, more flexibility in delivering course content, incorporating success skills, more attention to student overall development, involving students in more group work • Comparatively, LinC courses were more interactive, challenging, students are more positive, open, engaged and loud

  24. LinC Recommendations • Continuation of LinC courses, particularly in the four math courses studied • LinC coordination required

  25. Activity 2What’s a big idea, essential concept, or real-life problem that connects your courses, disciplines or student services? Freshman Seminar Course Developmental Math Course Reading Course Student Services

  26. Supplemental Learning (SL)www.valenciacc/dream/supplearning.asp SL assisted courses provide students with a trained peer mentor. The SL leader acts as a model student in class and leads group study sessions outside of class.

  27. SL Organization • Coordination • Collegewide Coordinator • 4 Campus Coordinators • 2 Campuses have student leaders assisting coordination • Recruitment • Recruiting SL Faculty • Recruiting and Training SL Leaders • Recruiting Students • Growth • Spring 2006 – 35 sections collegewide • Today, Spring 2009 – over 100 sections collegewide

  28. Supplemental Learning (SL)Course Success • In each comparison, Fall, Spring and Summer: • Success (A, B, or C) was higher for SL sections • Unsuccess (D, F, or WF) and Withdrawal (W, or WP) were lower for SL sections • Fall Success rates were significantly different for SL sections (*p<.10) for all ethnicities (N = 65 Instructors, N = 5157 students) • African American students • All courses: 10.36% higher (p=0.029) • Developmental: 8.53% higher (*p=0.167) • Gateway: 15.65% higher (p=0.019) • Hispanic students • All courses: 7.07% higher (p=0.007) • Developmental: 7.59% higher (p=0.025) • Gateway: 6.65% higher (p=0.099) *With one exception.

  29. Supplemental Learning ResearchPersistence • On average, students enrolled in the SL sections had higher persistence rates • As the size of the cohorts increase, this effect appears to lessen • The difference in persistence rates between SL and non-SL students decreases over time • This analysis, however, does not account for graduation

  30. Supplemental Learning ResearchStudent Focus Groups • Overall, students described the SL experience as positive, and felt that attending SL sessions helped their academic performance • Students who did not attend SL sessions gave two major reasons: • time of session conflicted with work or other courses • felt confident in their own ability and did not need the help • The following benefits of SL were reported: • learning study skill strategies • awareness of additional resources (CompHouse, SPA, etc.) • increased comfort with in-class participation and instructor interaction

  31. Supplemental Learning ResearchSummary and Recommendations • Supplemental Learning appears to have the most significant effect during the fall semester • Information about the scheduling of SL sessions at the time of registration may increase student participation in the sessions • Additional research is necessary to determine how to implement SL more effectively in Gateway College courses

  32. Activity 3 Describe the difference between tutoring and supplemental learning.

  33. Contact Information • Julie Phelps • Email: jphelps@valenciacc.edu • Christy Cheney • Email: ccheney@valenciacc.edu • National AtD web site: http://www.achievingthedream.org

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