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COLLEGE READINESS AND MATH PLACEMENT— IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? (AND DOES IT MATTER?). “Multiplying the Options” conference Everett Community College June 2010. Bill Moore Policy Associate, SBCTC Director, Transition Math Project (TMP) bmoore@sbctc.edu 360-704-4346. SESSION OUTLINE.
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COLLEGE READINESS AND MATH PLACEMENT—IS THERE A DIFFERENCE? (AND DOES IT MATTER?) “Multiplying the Options” conference Everett Community College June 2010 Bill Moore Policy Associate, SBCTC Director, Transition Math Project (TMP) bmoore@sbctc.edu 360-704-4346
SESSION OUTLINE • Role/purpose of placement testing • Issues related to math placement testing in Washington • Status of College Readiness Math Test • Recent developments, hopeful signs • Review of sample test items
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER • What do you see as the main functions of placement tests for colleges? • How well do your students understand what’s involved in college placement testing (and what’s on the tests)? • What do you (or your school and/or district) do to help students prepare for college placement tests?
MATH PLACEMENT TESTING IN A “SEAMLESS” EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Placing students appropriately into college math courses Promoting an articulated connection between high school and college mathematics Historical Role New Role in K-20 System
Key Issues/Concerns • Multiple tests • Multiple cut scores • Content/format differences
Math Placement Testing in Washington Postsecondary Education • All but two of Washington community & technical colleges use one of three tests: • The College Board’s Accuplacer • ACT’s ASSET • ACT’s COMPASS • Washington’s public baccalaureate institutions use two forms of the Math Placement Test
Not currently funded NOTE: Practice problems/tests available on-line (through WAMAP.org)
Recent Developments in College Math Placement Efforts • Allowing students to take placement exams in high school • Incorporating information about high school math courses into placement decisions • Providing brief review modules to help students prepare
REDEFINING COLLEGE READINESS David Conley, prepared for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2007
PERFORMANCE EXPECTATION EXAMPLES (OSPI) • Wile E. Coyote launches an anvil from 180 feet above the ground at time t = 0. The equation that models this situation is given by h = -16t2 + 96t + 180, where t is time measured in seconds and h is height above the ground measured in feet. a. What is a reasonabledomain restriction for t in this context? • b. Determine the height of the anvil two seconds after it was launched. c. Determine the maximum height obtained by the anvil. • d. Determine the time when the anvil is more than 100 feet above ground. • Farmer Helen wants to build a pigpen. With 100 feet of fence, she wants a rectangular pen with one side being a side of her existing barn. What dimensions should she use for her pigpen in order to have the maximum number of square feet?
(http://www.wamap.org/index.php) • Web-based mathematics assessment and course management platform • Free to Washington State public educational institution students and instructors • Designed specifically for mathematics, providing delivery of homework, quizzes, tests, practice tests, and diagnostics with rich mathematical content
CALIFORNIA MATHEMATICS DIAGNOSTIC TESTING PROJECT CLASS RESULTS School Instructor Course Test Date Test Type AR50/90 Number of Students: 25 Topic No. of Mastery Class Average Students at Code Items Level Score Percent Mastery DECM 9 6 4.6 51% 6 24% EQTN 6 4 3.2 53% 11 44% EXPS 5 3 2.7 54% 12 48% FRAC 9 6 4.2 47% 4 16% GEOM 10 7 5.0 50% 7 28% INTG 11 8 7.0 64% 12 48% ---- ---- ------ Total 50 26.7 53%