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TRANSFORMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH COURSE REDESIGN

TRANSFORMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH COURSE REDESIGN. TODAY’S DISCUSSION. The National Center for Academic Transformation Overview of the Methodology and Findings of the Program in Course Redesign Proven Models for Successful Redesign.

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TRANSFORMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH COURSE REDESIGN

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  1. TRANSFORMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH COURSE REDESIGN

  2. TODAY’S DISCUSSION • The National Center for Academic Transformation • Overview of the Methodology and Findings of the Program in Course Redesign • Proven Models for Successful Redesign

  3. Established in 1999 as a university Center at RPI funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts • Became an independent non-profit organization in 2003 • Mission: help colleges and universities learn how to use technology to improve student learning outcomes and reduce their instructional costs

  4. BRIEF HISTORY OF COURSE REDESIGN • The Roadmap to Redesign (R2R) 2003 – 2006 (20 institutions) • Colleagues Committed to Redesign (C2R) 2006 - 2009 (60 institutions) • Programs with Systems & States 2006 – present (~80 institutions) • The Redesign Alliance 2006 – present (70+ institutions) • Changing the Equation 2009 – 2012 (25+ institutions)

  5. TRADITIONAL INSTRUCTION Seminars Lectures

  6. “BOLT-ON” INSTRUCTION

  7. WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE LECTURE? • Treats all students as if they are the same • Ineffective in engaging students • Inadequate individual assistance • Poor attendance and success rates • Students fail to retain learning

  8. WHAT’S WRONG WITH MULTIPLE SECTIONS? • In theory: greater interaction • In practice: large class size • In practice: dominated by the same presentation techniques • Lack of coordination • Inconsistent outcomes

  9. PROGRAM IN COURSE REDESIGN To encourage colleges and universities to redesign their approaches to instruction using technology to achieve cost savings as well as quality enhancements. 30 projects 50,000+ students

  10. WHAT DOES NCAT MEAN BY COURSE REDESIGN? • Course redesign is the process of redesigning whole courses (rather than individual classes or sections) to achieve better learning outcomes at a lower cost by taking advantage of the capabilities of information technology. • Course redesign is not just about putting courses online. • It is about rethinking the way we deliver instruction in light of the possibilities that new technology offers.

  11. WHY REDESIGN? Look for courses where redesign will have a high impact: • High withdrawal/failure rates • Students on waiting lists • Students turned away – graduation bottleneck • Over enrollment of courses leading to multiple majors • Inconsistency of preparation • Difficulty getting qualified adjuncts • Difficulty in subsequent courses

  12. Mathematics Iowa State University Northern Arizona University Rio Salado College Riverside CC University of Alabama University of Idaho Virginia Tech Statistics Carnegie Mellon University Ohio State University Penn State U of Illinois-Urbana Champaign Computer Programming Drexel University University at Buffalo QUANTITATIVE (13)

  13. Biology Fairfield University University of Massachusetts Chemistry University of Iowa U of Wisconsin-Madison Astronomy U of Colorado-Boulder Psychology Cal Poly Pomona University of Dayton University of New Mexico U of Southern Maine Sociology IUPUI American Government U of Central Florida SCIENCE (5) SOCIAL SCIENCE (6)

  14. HUMANITIES (6) • English Composition • Brigham Young University • Tallahassee CC • Spanish • Portland State University • University of Tennessee • Fine Arts • Florida Gulf Coast University • World Literature • University of Southern Mississippi

  15. TEAM EFFORT IS KEY Each team included • Administrator • Faculty experts • Technology expertise • Assessment assistance

  16. IT IS POSSIBLE TO INCREASE LEARNING WHILE REDUCING COST • 25 of 30 PCR projects improved learning; the other 5 showed equal learning. • 24 measured course completion rates; 18 showed improvement. • All 30 reduced costs by 37% on average, with a range of 15% to 77%. Program in Course Redesign

  17. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SAVINGS? • Stay in department for continuous course improvement and/or redesign of others • Provide a greater range of offerings at upper division or graduate level • Accommodate greater numbers of students with same resources • Stay in department to reduce teaching load and provide more time for research • Redesign similar courses • Miscellaneous • Offer distance sections • Reduce rental expenditures • Improve training of part-time faculty

  18. NCAT METHODOLOGY:Relevance and Utility • Discipline: math & literature • Age: traditional & working adults • Institution: small & large • Location: on-campus & at a distance • Redesign: current & new courses • Level: introductory & advanced

  19. WHAT DO THE FACULTY SAY? • “It’s the best experience I’ve ever had in a classroom.” • “The quality of my worklife has changed immeasurably for the better.” • “It’s a lot of work during the transition--but it’s worth it.”

  20. SIX REDESIGN MODELS • Supplemental Add to the current structure and/or change the content • Replacement Blend face-to-face with online activities • Emporium Move all classes to a lab setting • Fully Online Conduct all (most) learning activities online • Buffet Mix and match according to student preferences • Linked Workshop Replace developmental courses with just-in-time workshops

  21. REDESIGN CHARACTERISTICS • Redesign the whole course—not just a single class • Emphasize active learning—greater student engagement with the material and with one another • Rely heavily on readily available interactive software—used independently and in teams • Mastery learning—not self-paced • Increase on-demand, individualized assistance • Automate only those course components that can benefit from automation—e.g., homework, quizzes, exams • Replace single mode instruction with differentiated personnel strategies Technology enables good pedagogy with large #s of students.

  22. SUPPLEMENTAL MODEL • Retains the basic structure, especially class meetings • Supplements lectures and textbooks with technology-based, out-of-class activities to • encourage greater student engagement with course content • ensure that students are prepared when they come to class • May also change what goes on in class by creating an active learning environment within a large lecture hall setting.

  23. BIOLOGYUniversity of Massachusetts CHALLENGES • Inconsistent student preparation • Poor class attendance • Lectures that repeated the contents of the textbook • High dissatisfaction with course by both faculty and students

  24. BIOLOGYUniversity of Massachusetts • Continue to have large class meetings • Require short pre-tests before the start of the first class each week and these are available for the entire term as review • Receive small number of points for taking the online quiz • Provide 24/7 online study materials • Include small group interactions during class focused on applied biology problems • Class periods are now used to discuss biology problems, rather than lecture

  25. BIOLOGYUniversity of Massachusetts Student Outcomes • In spite of more difficult questions, scores on exams in the redesigned course averaged 73% vs. 61% in the traditional course. • 23% of the exam questions in the traditional model required reasoning or problem solving skills vs. 67% in the redesigned course. • Attendance averaged 89.9% in the redesigned course vs. 67% in the traditional course.

  26. REPLACEMENT MODEL • Reduces the number of in-class meetings • Replaces in-class time with online, interactive learning activities • Determines what activities require face-to-face and what can be done online • Provides 24/7 access to online learning resources • Includes online self-assessment activities with immediate feedback

  27. COMPUTER LITERACYArizona State University GOALS Update content and delivery Cover modern methods and technologies Promote self-directed learning Use modern learning environment and technology to deliver course Reduce cost Decrease delivery costs – efficient sustainable delivery structure for ~2200 students each term

  28. COMPUTER LITERACYArizona State University Updated Content Traditional Course 4 paper-based, multiple choice exams based on computer technology too introductory for today's tech-savvy students 12 assignments in Microsoft Word, Excel, and FileMaker Pro, submitted in hard copy Redesigned Course 9 online quizzes demonstrating understanding of modern computing concepts 7 self-guided learning assignments applying computing concepts and computer-driven problem solving techniques, submitted via various online methods 4 major projects requiring substantial independent inquiry, submitted via various online methods

  29. COMPUTER LITERACYArizona State University Updated Delivery Traditional Model 2 lectures per week Open lab hours for assistance, staffed by TAs and graders Assignments turned in hard copy during lecture – graded by graders, and returned hard copy during lecture Paper-based, multiple choice exams completed in lecture Redesign Model 1 optional lecture per week, all content on Blackboard Scheduled guidance in lab, staffed by Undergraduate Learning Assistants (ULAs) Discussion board available for assistance daily All assignments, quizzes and projects submitted via the Web

  30. COMPUTER LITERACYArizona State University Learning Outcomes: Traditional Sections Average of 26% of students earned 70% or more Redesigned Sections Average of 65% of students earned 70% or more, on a demonstrably more difficult course Cost Reduction: a reduction from $50 to $35 per student, which is a 30% savings.

  31. EMPORIUM MODEL • Eliminates all lectures • Replaces them with a learning-resource center (lab) model • interactive software • on-demand, personalized assistance • Permits the use of multiple kinds of personnel • Allows multiple courses to be offered at the same time and place • Can be adapted for different kinds of institutions and disciplines

  32. THE EMPORIUM MODEL77% Cost Reduction (V1)30% Cost Reduction (V2)

  33. Traditional 38 sections (~40) 10 tenured faculty, 13 instructors, 15 GTAs 2 hours per week $91 cost-per-student Redesign 1 section (~1520) 1 instructor, grad & undergrad TAs + 2 tech support staff 24*7 in open lab $21 cost-per-student THE MATH EMPORIUMat Virginia Tech Replicated at U of Alabama, U of Idaho, LSU, Wayne State, U Missouri-St. Louis, Seton Hall, Cleveland State CC, Northeast State CC, Jackson State CC

  34. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMAMath Learning Center

  35. UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMASuccess Rates Semester Success Rate Semester Success Rate Fall 1998 47.1% Spring 1999 44.2% Fall 1999 40.6% Spring 2000 53.5% Fall 2000 50.2% Spring 2001 35.8% Fall 2001 60.5% Spring 2002 49.8% Fall 2002 63.0% Spring 2003 41.8% Fall 2003 78.9% Spring 2004 55.4% Fall 2004 76.2% Spring 2005 60.1% Fall 2005 66.7% Spring 2006 56.6% Fall 2006 73.8% Spring 2007 59.8% Fall 2007 75.2% Spring 2008 57.3% Fall 2008 78.1%

  36. FULLY ONLINE MODEL • Eliminates all in-class meetings and moves all (or most) learning experiences online • Adopts successful design elements of other models including • web-based, multi-media resources • commercial software • automatically evaluated assessments with guided feedback • links to additional resources and alternative staffing models

  37. FINE ARTSFlorida Gulf Coast University CHALLENGES • Significant inconsistency among multiple sections • Difficulty finding either faculty or adjuncts with the breadth of knowledge in all of the humanities • Poor performance in this course that is required by all freshmen • Growth in students and no money for new faculty

  38. FINE ARTSFlorida Gulf Coast University • Each module covers one aspect of the Humanities • Each module is designed and monitored by a faculty expert in that academic area • One course coordinator manages the course of 400+ students each term • Undergraduate peer tutors and adjuncts guide discussion groups and evaluate longer papers • 24/7 interactive learning resources are available anytime, any place

  39. Traditional 25 sections (~30); 6 sections (~15) = 800 Taught mainly by adjuncts “Course drift” $132 cost-per-student Redesign Single section (~950) Taught by 1 faculty, 1 course coordinator, 20 preceptors Consistent & coherent $81 cost-per-student FINE ARTSFlorida Gulf Coast University • Average exam scores increased from 70% to 85% • Number of A’s/B’s increased from 31% to 75% • DFW rate decreased from 45% to 11%

  40. EMERGENT LITERACYArizona State University • Traditional: Graduate level course taught f2f with FT faculty once a year on multiple campuses in sections of ~30 – enrollment ~100 now, but cannot meet demand • Redesign: Students from any campus enroll online; course taught every term with enrollment projected to grow to 300-500 annually; GTAs lead online course with FT faculty oversight • Learning assessed through common finals and use of common rubrics for written work • No difference in learning or change in DFW rates • Plan is to change all 14 courses in the MS degree

  41. BUFFET MODEL • Assess each student’s knowledge/skill level and preferred learning style • Provide an array of high-quality, interactive learning materials and activities • Develop individualized study plans • Built in continuous assessment to provide instantaneous feedback • Offer appropriate, varied human interaction when needed

  42. STATISTICSOhio State University CHALLENGES • Previous redesign using IT increased the cost • Students had highly variable learning styles • Lectures were poorly attended • 20% of the students repeat the course each quarter even though most have satisfactorily completed initial modules • Too many emails for faculty • Faculty time was used inefficiently • Inconsistency among sections

  43. STATISTICSOhio State University • Students use online assessment by Felder and Solomon. • There are multiple routes to established outcomes for each module. • Students are assisted in thinking about how they approach learning and what mode is easiest for them. • Students file a learning plan for each module. • Various kinds of learning activities using websites, software, video lectures, small group discussions, individual and group projects.

  44. STATISTICSOhio State University OUTCOMES • Redesign students had greater success on common exams (mean = 78.3) than traditional students (mean = 70). • The number of students needing to retake the course was reduced from 33% to 12%. • Cost reduction from $191 per student in the traditional to $132 per student in the redesign

  45. LINKED WORKSHOP MODEL Retains the basic structure of college-level course, especially class meetings Replace remedial/developmental course with just-in-time (JIT) workshops designed to remove deficiencies computer-based instruction, small-group activities and test reviews individually assigned modules based on diagnostic assessments facilitated by students who have previously excelled in core course who are trained and supervised by core faculty JIT workshop activities designed so students use concepts during next core course class session, which in turn motivates them to do workshop activities

  46. DEVELOPMENTAL MATHAustin Peay State University Student Success Rates College Course Before SLA Fund of Math 32.4% 69.9% Elem Statistics 22.4% 52.5%* * Higher than the success rate for students with 19-22 ACT subscores

  47. A STREAMLINED REDESIGN METHODOLOGY“A Menu of Redesign Options” • Six Models for Course Redesign • Five Principles of Successful Course Redesign • Cost Reduction Strategies • Course Planning Tool • Course Structure Form • Five Models for Assessing Student Learning • Five Critical Implementation Issues • Planning Checklist

  48. MANY DIFFERENT COURSES Mathematics Developmental Math Pre-calculus Math College Algebra Discrete Math Introductory Algebra Elementary Algebra Beginning Algebra Intermediate Algebra Linear Algebra Statistics Business Statistics Introductory Statistics Elementary Statistics Economic Statistics Computing Computer Programming Information Technology Concepts Computer Literacy Information Literacy Tools for the Information Age

  49. SCIENCE Anatomy and Physiology Astronomy Biology Ethnobotany Chemistry Geology SOCIAL SCIENCE American Government Macro and Microeconomics Psychology Sociology Urban Affairs

  50. HUMANITIES British Literature Communication Studies Developmental Reading Developmental Writing English Composition European and US History Great Ideas in Western Music History of Western Civilization Public Speaking Spanish Technical Writing Visual & Performing Arts Women & Gender Studies World Literature PROFESSIONAL Accounting Education: The Curriculum Elementary Education Engineering Nursing Nutrition Organizational Behavior

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