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Missouri Western State University. NCAT Mid-Course Sharing Workshop Lou Fowler Associate Professor of Accounting fowler@missouriwestern.edu. Course Redesign. We redesigned GBA110, Introduction to Business.
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Missouri Western State University NCAT Mid-Course Sharing Workshop Lou Fowler Associate Professor of Accounting fowler@missouriwestern.edu
Course Redesign • We redesigned GBA110, Introduction to Business. • Although smaller class size than some other courses, it suffered from considerable “course drift” and a consistently high drop/fail rate. • Academic performance of the pilot group improved; however, the drop/fail rate did not diminish.
Students’ Success • Final exam scores • Pre- and post-test knowledge survey • Validation of learning
Comprehensive Final Exam • The pilot group did better than the traditional group on the same comprehensive exam. • The average score on the comprehensive final exam for the pilot group was 81% and the traditional group 79%.
Knowledge Survey • Significant improvement was noted between the pre-test and post-test knowledge surveys (administered only to the pilot group). • Students rated their knowledge of course concepts using the following scale: 1. Not confident in my knowledge in this area. 2. Somewhat confident in my knowledge in this area 3. Very confident that I am highly knowledgeable in this area
Pre-Test and Post-test Comparisons for GBA110, Introduction to Business Pilot in Spring 2012
Validation of Learning The next results indicate a close relationship between performance on the final exam and increase in knowledge of subject matter as measured by the post-test.
Student Issues • The nontraditional students differed from the traditional students. • Game playing activities – not as engaged • Stock Market Game- more engaged • Grades of the nontraditional students were better.
Issues • Neither groups of students liked the online Homework Manager. • Students did not like having to read the material and answer the Homework Manager assignments before coming to class. • Four students did not even get the Homework Manager access code until mid-way through the course. This definitely hurt their grade. • Grades in the Homework Manager comprised 14% of the student’s grade.
Full Implementation • Encourage more traditional-age students to enroll. Currently, the course pre-requisite excludes students who have more than 24 hours of credit. • For fall, a business simulation will be added, as well as continuing our stock market simulation game.
Biggest Challenges for Fall • Finding additional lecture time to sufficiently cover course topics. • Student feedback • Increasing enrollment of our target group of traditional-age students. • Improving student participation in the on-line Homework Manager.
The Best Part • Instructional cost per student decreased by nearly 30%. • Missouri Western’s Criminal Justice department used our design proposal to redesign Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency. In Spring 2012 they reported: • Cost cuts per student by nearly 50% • Student satisfaction was increased; however, no significant change in grades was noted • Planning to redesign two more additional courses in the upcoming academic year.