Enhancing Learning in Support Labs: the Human Factor and Technology Solutions

1. Enhancing Learning in Support Labs: the Human Factor and Technology Solutions

2. Presenters S. Sean Madison – Dean of Academic & Student Affairs Michaela Tomova – Director, Academic Support Kimberly D. Smith – Professor, Developmental Reading Atlanta, Georgia March 19 - 22, 2006

3. Location & Facilities

4. MDC Enrollment by Campus

5. Student Population & Profile

6. Student Population & Profile

7. Student Population & Profile

8. AA Degree Pre BA Business Administration Elementary Education AS Degree Nursing Aviation Administration Early Childhood Education Academic Goals & Top Degrees

9. Student Challenges • 59% are first generation college students • 80% work while enrolled (27% work full-time) • 42% are below the poverty level • 63% are low-income students • 32% are non-native speakers of English

10. Student Success • Increased enrollment • Higher retention rates • Wider course selection • Special projects: • Quality Enhancement Plan • Title V Project “Student Success Initiative”, etc. • Academic Support

11. What is Learning Support? Learning support is defined as any activity beyond a college program's prescribed content that contributes to individual students' attendance, retention, learning, and achievement. Green, M. and L. Milbourne (1998) Making Learning Support Work FE Matters; v2 n6 1998. ED417345

12. What is a Learning Center? National College Learning Center Association defines alearning center as a place where students can be taught to become more efficient and effective learners. Learning Center services may include tutoring, mentoring, supplemental instruction, academic and skill-building labs, computer aided instruction, success seminars/programs, advising and more.

13. What We Do • ASSIST students in the learning process • CREATE an environment enabling students to learn with ease and confidence • OFFER help through tutors, study aids and educational technology tools • SERVE as a testing ground for innovative programs and materials

14. Mission & Structure To provide access to educational resources to enhance the learning process through technology and academic support, and to empower studentsto succeed.

15. Classes We Support College Prep Reading, Writing, Math Remediation Needs: MDC vs. Community College System • Overall remediation 78% vs. 72% • In more than one subject 54% vs. 45% • In all three areas 33% vs. 25%

16. 2005-2006 Final exam Math workshops Final exam Writing workshops Using Graphing Calculators workshop The Chemistry pilot project Special Sessions

17. Classes We Support • Vocational Prep Reading, Language, and Math • Pre GED Math, Reading, Language, Social Sciences • VESOL (Vocational English for Speakers of Other Languages) • EAP (English for Academic Purposes) • Spanish

18. Computer Courtyard Resources • Software & Hardware • Special sessions: • Using WebCT • Using TurnItIn • Reliable Internet Resources • Assistive Technology Tools for ACCESS Students

19. Student Sessions Computer Courtyard: average student sessions per week - 686 Sail Lab: average student sessions per week - 122

21. Student Sessions Learning Support Lab: average student sessions per week - 2342

23. The Human Factor Who works at the labs?

24. The Human Factor Employee Professional Development • In-house training • CT&D workshops(College Training and Development) • “Train the Trainer” workshops

25. The Human Factor Communication & Interactions • Staff - Professor • Student - Professor (beyond the classroom) • Student -Tutor (the role of the tutor) • Student - Computer (educational technology)

26. The Human Factor What Students Say: I have been extremely happy with the learning support lab here at the Homestead Campus. The individual attention and encouragement is great. The tutors are helpful and make you feel comfortable to be honest about your level in the subject you are working with which allows you to have true progression. The tutors are very helpful and kind. I feel I can come to the lab and get the help I need. I know I will leave feeling confident about my work. I have had a lot of trouble getting into my WebCT and my math lab sites. It seems that I am not the only one. If not for the support group I would still be trying to enter those sites. I am taking a basic computer class, but I have learned more with the lab and help here. I have gone so far. You can ask Dr. Rivers of what I have done. More than I hope for.

27. Technology Solutions Software and Courseware • Content • Ease of use • Ease of implementation • Accuracy of assessment and feedback • Flexibility • Affordability • Customer Support

28. Technology Solutions

29. Technology Solutions [91]MyMathLab [32] Course Compass for Reading [16] PLATO Web [6] Learning 100 [20] PassKey [11] Townsend Press online courses [45] Computer Courtyard software [87] InternetResearch

30. Technology Solutions Five steps to a new courseware: • Evaluation • Staff Training • Piloting • Review • Implementation

31. How We Use PLATO

32. Surveys • Who we ask • What we ask • How we ask • What we learn • What we do

33. Classroom Use of LSL Professor Kimberly Smith, Developmental Reading Services Used in Lab: • Classroom Instructional Time • Tutoring/Intervention • Software

34. Software • Townsend Press, www.townsendpress.com • REA 0001 and REA 0002 Classes • Learning 100 • REA 0001 • Course Compass, www.coursecompass.com • REA 0003

35. Implementation of Software • Townsend Press • Course Compass • Learning 100

36. Strengths and Weaknesses of LSL and Software • Strengths • Online software offers flexibility • Tutors help students • 1-on-1 (Instructor and student) • Weaknesses • Classroom Instructional Time Shortened • Student “Ingenuity”

37. How do my students feel about“The Lab?” • “ I love coming to the lab because I get help with homework and they help me to say the words right.” • “I’m shy and don’t feel comfortable asking questions to my professor so the tutors help me with what I don’t know.”

38. Other Academic Support Websites: • Learning Support Centers in Higher Education • National College Learning Center Association • National Awards for LSC websites

39. Thank You!