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Up the Mountain We Go ~ Launching an ALP Pilot at a Small Community

Up the Mountain We Go ~ Launching an ALP Pilot at a Small Community and Technical College in West Virginia ~ Stephanie Alexander, MEd Assistant Professor of Reading Mountwest Community & Technical College Huntington, WV.

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Up the Mountain We Go ~ Launching an ALP Pilot at a Small Community

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  1. Up the Mountain We Go ~ Launching an ALP Pilot at a Small Community and Technical College in West Virginia ~ Stephanie Alexander, MEd Assistant Professor of Reading Mountwest Community & Technical College Huntington, WV

  2. SOON-TO-BE Mountwest Community & Technical college Fall 2012

  3. Overview of presentation • Mountwest CTC (institutional overview/success profile/developmental education picture) • Reading Program (history/evolution) • Reading ALP (compressed /contextualization)

  4. MountwestInstitutional Overview • Small, public 2-year institution • ~ 250-300 employees (~110 full time) • 4,000 students (full/part time) • Located in WV ~one of 10 state CTCs ~ranked about 5th by SIZE • Previously imbedded within 4-yr state university • Became separate entity by state law • Continued to be housed on university campus through fall 2012 • Has grown considerably since separation ~2004 • Will be housed in own facility Fall 2012 (“The Move”)

  5. MOUNTWEST“SUCCESS” Profile From IPEDS: Data are for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates Overall 1-yr Retention Rate: 38.2% (WV state avg 49.3 ~ National avg 51.4) Mountwest CTC Graduation rates within 150% of normal time to program completion: Overall graduate rate: 10% Men 8% Women 13%

  6. MountwestThe developmental Picture from: WV Higher Education Policy Commission and Community & Technical College System’s Report Card 2011 % Developmental Passing Rates 2010 MountwestSTATE (WV) Average ENG/WRTG 54.4 51.9 MATH 35.7 48.8 READING 36.1 55.8 % Developmental Students Passing NEXT subsequent college level course Within TWO years ENG 38.4 (.544) (.357) [11%] 41.9 MATH 26.6 (.361) (.266) [9.6%] 18.9 Nationally - from Complete College America – (26 states) 20.5%

  7. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION Prior to 2009 (aka “before my time”) • Elective ~ (little to no enrollment – approx 40-70 students per year) • “1 teacher show” • Placement by accuplacer/ACT (below 80/18rdg) • Classroom based w/“Reading recovery room” style tutoring when numbers were small • Nelson Denny Reading Comprehension test used a pre/post test, and for exit (high stakes testing at end of course) • 2008-2009 –totally a literary based approach emphasizing basic skills through the use of a literary text with G.E. of middle school (i.e. - The Giver) • 3 credit hour class/open enrollment

  8. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION 2009 – 2010 **the beginning of “my time” • Fall 2009 -ELECTIVE (less than 25 students) • Spring 2010 ~ placed as Pre-Reqon many 100 level course for all new admits who placement tested • Spring - 1 full time / 1 part-time instructor (evening) • Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in academic success center • Used traditional text based on a metacognitive approach- plus current events/short stories as supplements (**read to learn with text/read to practice with supplements) • Less than 50 students for the YEAR

  9. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION MAJOR 2009 – 2010 ISSUES • Low enrollment / Placement test ratio due to: Students not being placed in course by student services ~ confusion in student services over pre-req/ rdg requirement for some 100 level courses Solution : Student Services “enlightenment” by deans Result: Enrollment surge for reading Fall 2010 ~ New Issue: over 75% NOT in-coming/first time freshmen (at risk for higher attrition rates –test scores stale!) • “Misplaced” students – Disgruntled Students – increased in # which meant increase in # of misplaced students Solution : Retest all on entry first week of class/ offer Challenge Test • “open enrollment” range of need too great Solution: Create 4 hour “leap frog” class ~ accuplacer 51 & below/or by self-selction

  10. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION 2010 – 2011 ***year 2 of “my time” • REA - functions as Pre-Reqon many 100 level courses for all new admits who placement test into reading • Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in academic success center • Used traditional text based on a metacognitive approach- plus current events/short stories as supplements • Used Nelson Denny Comprehension section as the “challenge test” to reassess/test out (Form G 62/Form H 64) – administered first week of class • ADDED “MyReadingLab” for basic skills enhancement ~(administration requested –aka “greasy of Pearson’s palm”) • ADDED 4 hour class ( accuplacer 51 & below or self selection) • 1 full time / 3 part time instructors

  11. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION MAJOR 2010 – 2011 ISSUES • High attrition~ most students “gone” by 9th/10th week Solution : course redesign – compression model --frontload course/use modules to feed/build affective domain(progress appears more concrete) --offer opportunity to exit early (borderline students “refreshed” and can move on) Result: Early Exit possible/finish as early as 8th week /could sign up for 2nd 8week 100 level content course New Issue: no lab space for computerized testing of modules/modules would need to be created the old fashioned way ~ by hand! ALSO : consider/develop ALP companion class pilot for Spring2012 for contextualized accelerated learning desired by the state of WV • No designated lab Space for MyReadingLab ~ only 2 computers in ASC Solution: discontinue use until labs are available • Students not appropriately placed in 3 and 4 hour courses Solution: enlighten student services Result: not much change

  12. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION 2011 – 2012(this past year) • Pre-Req on many 100 level course for all new admits who placement tested • Fall : 1 full time / 8 part time Spring : 2 full time / 2 part time • Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in writing center • Used traditional text based on a metacognitive approach- plus current events/short stories as supplements – **but content modulized • 3 and 4 hour classes offered (leapfrog style- same exit point for both classes) • ADDED FALL : Early Exit –compression model- 7 modules /delivered in 8 weeks – 2nd 8weeks used for individualized tutoring/module retaking - Fall 47% out by midterm ~ 70 % for term Spring 58% out by midterm ~ 66.67% for term Total Overall Retention 68% • ADDED SPRING: Companion Course – REA/ PSY

  13. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts Pilot Development • Instructor Collaboration (REA & Content Instructors) • Course content adjustment • Scheduling/Teaching • Grading • Future Plans ~ Additional Pilots

  14. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION INSTRUCTOR COLLABORATION Types of content instructors to collaborate with: A. The “Risk takers” (game for anything) B. The “Good Sport” (would do it for a friend) C. Desperate? Try “persuasion” (gee…hope these pics don’t find their way to the “meet the faculty” web page…)

  15. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION ALP Companion Class Pilots – Spring 2012 Had 2 classes prepared for Spring 2012 pilots: REA/Psychology REA/History X X O X X O X X O X O OOOO X O X X O OOOOO O X O X O X O X O X ( 3 hour content class) + (2 hour REA section) = 5 hrs

  16. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION CHALLENGE # 1 - little / no enrollment • Little /No “marketing” by Student Services did not understand ALP (“accelerated “??) misconceptions regarding “need” for history/psychology credits confusion over course designators (listed as sp topics/280) • Student Reluctance confusion due to language used “accelerated” ? (not for me!!) course designator (280) – class appeared advanced not sure if “needed” - (did not understand that these could fill social science elective) entailed 5 hour rather than 3 hour commitment (traditional REA is 3) Solutions: Re-educate advising/scheduling staff re: ALP Change course designators from 20s to 050s

  17. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Results: • Run Psychology/REA Pilot as planned Offered Spring 2012  “Postpone” History/REA Pilot 

  18. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts STUDENT PLACEMENT for PSY/REA ( basic ALP course design) open content class of 25 has 8-10 REA students PSY215REA282 X X O X X O X X O X O OOOO X O X X O + O OOOO= 5 hr O X O X O X O X O X ( 3 hour content class) (2 hour rdgsection) • FOR PILOT SECTION OF PSY- Added a pre-req of “sp topics” REA co-reqfor those who did not ACT 18/ accuplacer 80rdg – • SAME REA282 SECTION required for all students needing REA co-req

  19. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts COURSE CONTENT • Psychology Class – no course content changes – same all the other PSY215 sections ~ same 3 credits • Reading Class – designed as companion class that “supports” psychology class content ** basic reading skills practiced within the context of the psychology class’s reading demands ~ meets entire 16 weeks ** course changes: 1. no early exit opportunity /runs entire 16 weeks 2. only 2 credit hours instead of 3 or 4 3. must be attached to the psy class 4. all materials – psy related

  20. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts West Virginia Developmental Education Task Force SUGGESTIONS May 26, 2011 Common Learner-Outcomes for Developmental Reading courses *** FOCUS – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT • Demonstrate active reading strategies (Skills: pre-read, read, review, outline and take notes). • Increase vocabulary development and word analysis strategies (Skills: ability to use dictionary, thesaurus, understand and recognize word-parts, context clues, and create and use graphic organizers). • Develop literal reading skills (understanding what is stated ~ comprehension skills: identify main idea and supporting details). • Develop interpretive reading skills (understanding what is implied rather than what is stated ~ comprehension skills: make inferences and draw conclusions and be able to read visual aids). • Develop critical reading skills (applying concepts and ideas ~ comprehension skills: analyze and synthesize ideas, identify purpose and tone).

  21. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts REASONING BEHIND COURSE CONTENT DESIGN OF REA Objective of a REA companion course students will understand, develop and use basic reading skills in order to produce the expected quality/level of work in the content class (approach: strongly metacognitive ) -- skills are not taught in isolation or with random materials Example: • In PSY class students are expected to outline book chapters and identify key vocabulary for each chapter as read • In REA class, students are made aware that the reason they must outline text chapters is in order to identify the main ideas of that chapters and to identify key vocabulary ~ they are offered assistance in reading and creating an outline that shows those main ideas , and assisted in creating lists of key vocabulary for each chapter

  22. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts Traditional REA Companion REA for PSY Four Activities : Activity A – 1,2,3 (state guideline) ( ** x15 ) -M1, M2, M3 (trad REA) Activity B – 1,2,4, 5 (state guidelines) - M1, M2 , M3, M4, M5, M6,M7 Activity C – 1,4,5 (state guidelines) -M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 Activity D – 1, 2, 4, 6 (state guidelines) -M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7 7 modules: 1.     Module 1 -  Skillful Reading  2.     Module 2 -  Vocabulary Expansion 3.     Module 3 -  Topics & Main Ideas 4.     Module 4 -  Supporting Details 5.     Module 5 -  Outlines & Concept Maps 6.     Module 6 -  Thought Patterns 7.     Module 7 -  Inference/Implied Meaning /Purpose

  23. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts SCHEDULING & TEACHING PSY215 MW 5- 6:15pm (HH 447) REA282 M 6:30-8:30pm (HH 102) 1 (same) instructor for both sections ***however, could be collaboratively or team taught ***scheduling conducive to “just in time” skills

  24. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts GRADING PSY 215 - letter graded class (A, B, C, D, F) REA282 – CR/NC treated as two separate classes / two separate grades however co-req~ this means: • if dropping one, must drop other exception: Instructor permission could waive REA co-req Why? Because student has demonstrated level of proficiency in reading necessary to maintain passing grade in content class

  25. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts RESULTS OF 2011-2012 Spring Pilot in PSY/REA 5 originally registered for REA / 3 “showed” & participated 14 total /registered for PSY (~ 1/3rd of class REA) All 3 received CR in REA and “B” or higher in PSY Thus for the pilot group: ** 100% completion for REA282 AND ** 100% completion for 100 level class

  26. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts Expansion Of REA - ALP Fall 2012 Due to “THE MOVE” – (none offered due to scheduling insanity related to moving to the new facility) Spring 2013 pilots 1)REA/HIST (return of!) plus 2) REA/COMM (new recruit!)

  27. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts CURRENT CHALLENGES • “THE MOVE” Fall 2012 scheduling issues • Student Recruitment (persist!) *create (yet another) informational “REA Options” flyer for students * inform student services of ALP opportunities (AGAIN) • Find willing content collaborators from content classes

  28. MOUNTWEST READING PROGRAM – The Alp EVOLUTION Nuts & Bolts FUTURE EVOLUTION OF REA - ALP • Next step: Integrate REA and DEV WRTG into 4 or 5 credit course block schedule with math (4 hours) col 101 (1 hour) and IT 101 (3 hour) or similar 3 hr class • NEXT AFTER THAT : Create ALP companion classes using the new Integrated ENG class plus Content Class targeted classes for pairing: “introduction to… “

  29. Contact emaiil Stephanie Alexander, MEd Assistant Professor of Reading Mountwest Community & Technical College Huntington, WV alexanders@mctc.edu

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