Strategies for Success

1. Strategies for Success CMC^3 December 2009 Lynn Marecek MaryAnne Anthony Santa Ana College

2. If they only knew……… …what it takes to be successful! What skills do you want your students to have as they enter your classroom?

3. 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!

4. California Basic Skills Initiative Effective Practice D2 • D2.4 Developmental courses/programs implement effective curricula and practices for development of study skills.

5. 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

6. Strategies for Success • Activities to develop study skills • Goal setting • Organization • Successful student behavior • Homework skills • Test preparation • Self-evaluation • Integral part of coursework

7. 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

8. Basic Goals for Faculty • Make each activity easy for teacher to use confidently • Needs little preparation • Gives background information • Is easy to grade • Integrate strategies into course without using much class time

9. Basic Goals for Students • Activities encourage: • 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. Group Feedback • What did you like best about your worksheet? • How could you use this worksheet? • Other comments?

13. Teacher Support • Teacher page for each Strategy • rationale • directions for use • suggestions for timing in the course • Teachers can seamlessly incorporate study skills in classes • easily • confidently

14. Basic Skills InitiativeStrategies For Success Cohort • Spring 2009 • 5 Santa Ana College math teachers • 1 full time • 4 part time • Courses • Basic Math • Prealgebra • Intermediate Algebra

15. Strategies For Success CohortProject Components • Integration of Strategies for Success worksheets into math classes • Monthly cohort meetings of teachers • Introduced worksheets • Explained classroom implementation • Highlighted timing sequence in course • Shared and debriefed • Pre-test/post-test • Final Report

16. Data Collection • Pre-test/Post-test • 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

17. Quantitative Results • Sample size • 6 classes • n=109 students (matched pre-test/post-test) • Post-test scores > pre-test scores ? • 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

18. Observations • Importance of ongoing faculty development • Explained nuts and bolts of implementation • Provided support and reassurance • Built confidence and camaraderie • Gave a broader perspective • Pre-test needs more introduction • Students should take it seriously • Students do not see relevance at first

19. 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”

20. 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.”

21. 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”

22. 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”

23. 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”

24. 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”

25. 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!

26. Teacher Resources • For a copy of • this presentation • the Strategies for Success packet • For more information Email: marecek_lynn@sac.edu anthony_maryanne@sac.edu