Reaching New Academic Heights with Innovative Mathematics Programs

1. Reaching New Academic Heights with Innovative Mathematics Programs August 21, 2008 Ana Dougherty Lynda Soto Feliciana Salazar

2. UTPA GEAR UP Cohort UTPA GEAR UP cohort size is about 9,576 in 22 high schools and 3 counties.

3. Session Overview • The collaboration between GEAR UP, Texas Instruments, AgileMind, and SureScore has given our project the opportunity to develop guidelines for effective implementation of online and offline programs. • Tailoring effective implementation of mathematic programs on campuses • Embed mathematical programs into existing curriculum to raise mathematics standards • Accessing vital information to identify campus needs • Preparing GEAR UP cohort students for more rigorous courses, thus increasing college readiness and success in college math!

4. UTPA GEAR UP Math Partners The UTPA GEAR UP Project and Partners provide teachers high quality professional development paired with the most current resources to support student learning and prepare them for post-secondary education. STEM Center of South Texas Texas Instruments AgileMind SureScore MARS

5. UTPA T-STEM Partnership UTPA GEAR UP and the STEM Center of South Texas have formed a partnership to provide GEAR UP Teachers the high quality professional development paired with the most current technology to support student learning.

6. UTPA GEAR UP and Texas Instruments Partnership Texas Instruments has created innovative tools such as the TI Navigator System and the TI Nspire calculator to increase student achievement and provide students with the support needed to excel in mathematics.

7. UTPA GEAR UP, AgileMind and SureScore Partnership • Agile Mind is an online and offline service for teachers and students of Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-calculus and Geometry. It is a complete integrated mathematics program that helps exceed the standards and capture the interest of students. • SureScore MARS is a mathematics program that provides students with strategies for mastering algebra and Geometry by building on knowledge gained from their own experiences and developing skills that are defined through the application of that knowledge.

8. Guidelines for Effective Implementation • Plan collaboratively before professional development sessions • GEAR UP advisors and coordinators attend the training for support • Structure the advisor (instructional coach) campus visits to campus needs • Work through the departments heads and campus principal • Establish accountability measures • Develop procedures to document services

9. Texas Instruments Professional Development • Professional Development sessions provided by the T-STEM Center for Texas Instruments • 4 days in the summer • 2 in the fall • 2 in the spring • 92 teachers received a TI Navigator with Cabri Software • TI Navigator Installations conducted by a TI Professional Instructional Coach at the beginning of the school year.

10. TI Local Support • 4 Instructor visits conducted by Texas Instruments Specialists • Additional visits conducted by local T-STEM Center • Teacher trainings using TI technology during planning period • Question and answer sessions • Classroom demonstrations based on teacher request • Assistance with technical problems • TI Customer Support: 1-866-TI-Navigator

11. SureScore Professional Development and Local Support • Professional Development session(s) offered at the school/district • Scheduled Advisor Visits • Teacher trainings using SureScore Mars during planning period • Question and answer sessions • Classroom demonstrations based on teacher request

12. Professional Development and Local Support • 2 Day Professional Development conducted at campus or district. • AgileMind Summer Institutes offered at UTB • 4 Scheduled Advisor Visits by Math Specialists • Teacher trainings using Agile Mind during planning period • Question and answer Sessions • Classroom Demonstrations based on Teacher Request

13. Tracking Implementation of Math programs • GEAR UP Tracking Form • Submitted weekly to coordinators • Coordinators enter usage into the system • TI Session Logs • Installed by TI PICs • Retrieved monthly from teacher’s computers and submitted to UTPA GEAR UP office. • Monthly reports to track usage

14. Gaining Administrator and Teacher Support • Conducting Math Department Presentations three times a year • Campus Program Selection • Partner Questionnaire • Follow up • Scheduling visits through UTPA GEAR UP office • Advisor Visit (instructional coach) reports submitted after the visit. • Conducting Surveys • Conferences • Teacher surveys

15. Gaining Administrator and Teacher Support • Project Executive Alliance Meetings • Data is provided on a monthly basis. • Needs Assessment • Campus GEAR UP staff • Sustainability of Resources at Campus

16. Campus Expectations • Attendance to all Professional Development • Collaboration with colleagues for successful implementation • Commitment of program usage • Cooperation in documenting usage of services

17. Teacher Selection • Teacher classes must include at least 50% of UTPA GEAR UP students. • Size of cohort • Historical Usage • Special Circumstances

19. Harlingen High School Embeds Mathematical Programs into Existing Curriculum • There are 7 TI Navigators in use at HHS • 3 TI Navigator systems in 9th grade • 4 TI Navigator systems in 10th grade • AgileMind program is being implemented • Aligning resources during the summer to incorporate all math resources into existing curriculum. • Benefits • Multiple representation of math concepts • Connection to real-life • Critical thinking skills applied • Application of math concepts with immediate feedback

20. Texas Instrument TI Navigator • TI Navigator system is designed to work with TI graphing calculators. • Work through classroom ready activities that use TI-Navigator to enhance students’ understanding and problem solving ability. Texas Instrument offers classroom activities on their website. TI Navigator Features • Quick Poll- Get real-time feedback instantly to assess student understanding to identify common mistakes • Screen Capture- Monitor students work to ensure they are on track and on task • Class Analysis - Immediately show students results on assignments quizzes and tests • Automatic Grading- grade reports are created • Activity Center – engaging and collaborative learning environment to help students deeper understanding

21. TI Navigator Demonstration

22. AgileMind Demonstration http://harlingen.agilemind.com/

23. TI Navigator and AgileMind Integration • Explore Concept with AgileMind • Conduct Guided Assessment using Quickpoll and Screen Capture • Class Analysis • Incorporating TI Navigator and AgileMind allows students to have visual representations of abstract concepts while engaging in a collaborative learning environment that stimulates higher level thinking.

24. MARS Demonstration MARS-MATH APPLICATIONS and RESOURCES for SUCCESS • Enables students to become actively engaged in and develop an understanding of math skills in real-life situations • Provides strategies aligned with state core math curriculum standards • Builds higher-level thinking skills and problem solving abilities • Improves student performance on standardized tests, like SAT and ACT. • Prepares students for the increased rigor of upper-level coursework

25. TI Navigator and SureScore Integration • Conduct hands-on activities using SureScore MARS • Using sample questions from SureScore MARS to conduct guided assessments using Quickpoll and Screen Capture. • Class Analysis • Incorporating SureScore MARS and TI Navigator allows students to explore mathematical concepts with hands- on activities and monitor for understanding. • SureScore has worked collaboratively with TI to develop learn check files for Algebra.

26. TI Navigator Impact at Harlingen High School Harlingen High School Excellence Video

27. Harlingen High School Charting A Course for True North • GEAR UP cohort = 348 students • Total 10th grade student served = 154 • 3 out of 4 Teachers in 10th grade had schedule change • Resources such as the TI Navigator and Agilemind helped the campus in increasing overall TAKS scores. • 9th grade last year 49%, 10th grade 54% (+5%) GEAR UP cohort • 10th grade last year 53%, in 11th grade 81% (+28) Impact of resources • 9th grade last year 49%, 9th grade 56% (+7) Impact of resources • To impact more students, 4 additional teachers will receive training during the 2009-2010 summer.

28. Texas Instrument Teacher Math Survey Results

29. GEAR UP and Mathematics Program Impact • TI Usage increase by 8% • From 8th grade to 9th grade Math TAKS scored have increased • In 8th grade cohort students performed 7 points below state average in Math • In 9th grade cohort students performed 2 points below state average in Math • Focus on Math initiatives is helping close the achievement gap in Math

30. SUSTAINABILITY OF MATH PROGRAMS • Texas Instruments Regional Conference • Regional Math Advisory Council • Collaboration with Regional Education Center • RGV Texas Instruments Implementation Coach • Teacher Leader Cadre Training • TI Refresher Courses offered by T-STEM

31. Refining the Model • Instructional Coach Visit Form • Report Submission from 3 to 5 days • Define acceptable usage standards • TI Navigator troubleshooting flip cards • Monthly data usage report sent to administrators

32. Collaborative Effort

33. In Conclusion UTPA GEAR UP works collaboratively with all of our partners, teachers, and administrators, throughout the year by providing quality professional development, classroom resources and support to ensure student success.