2009 Course Redesign Workshop:
Combining Technology with Traditional Approaches
to Increase Success Rates
in Remedial and Introductory Math Courses
June 22-25, 2009
Menomonie, WI
2009 Workshop Staff and Participants
Workshop Description:
Across the country, 40-45% of incoming college students place into pre-college-level math, and passing a first-year math course is frequently the strongest predictor of retention into the second year of college.
This workshop will provide the tools needed to adapt methods refined over the past five years in the UW-Stout Math Teaching and Learning Center that have decreased failure and withdrawal rates by 55% in our remedial Fundamentals of Algebra course and by over 40% in our Intermediate Algebra course. The Math TLC approach combines technology in the form of the MyMathLab/MathXL software package with traditional classroom instruction and a new, targeted tutoring program. (For more on methods and results, see our online report.)
Space and staffing limit the workshop to a maximum of 20 participants. Funding from a U.S. Department of Education FIPSE grant will cover all registration fees and workshop material costs; attendees will be responsible for travel, lodging, and most meal expenses.
The four day workshop will take participants through all the steps needed to set up pilot sections of remedial or introductory level math courses using a hybrid format of online homework, regular in-class sessions, and targeted tutoring. Workshop sessions will run from 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. daily, with evenings open for assisted work sessions and networking. Each participating school will also be assigned a liaison from the grant project team to serve as a direct contact for ongoing advice and troubleshooting during the pilot academic year.
For more information, contact Jeanne Foley at foleyj@uwstout.edu or
Deb Sinz at sinzd@uwstout.edu , or call (715)232-5001.
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Information from Previous Workshops:
- 2008 Workshop Agenda
- 2008 Workshop Materials and Resources
- 2008 Workshop Participants
- 2007 Workshop Particpants
COMMENTS ABOUT PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS:
In the conclusion to her 2008 workshop evaluation report, external grant evaluator Dr. Carol Skay wrote: “I would like to personally recognize the Stout faculty for delivering a phenomenal workshop.” Among the participant comments she cited in her reports were these:
- “I have been involved with zillions of workshops, conferences, courses, conventions, etc.... and rarely is there the outstanding combination of competence, organization, passion, and camaraderie that the Stout team displayed.” [2007 workshop participant]
- “I was surprised by how much they covered in 5 days! I never imagined learning that much about one program in such a short time.” [2008 workshop participant]
- “Clearly, the UW-Stout team is committed to excellence and work together well to achieve it.” [2008 workshop participant]
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Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of Public Instruction:
"The new approach to teaching introductory mathematics being pioneered at UW-Stout effectively addresses a problem of urgent national significance, and I believe that this new program has great potential for adaptation by other schools in the University of Wisconsin System."
Terry Brown, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences UW-River Falls:
"We are deeply grateful for the support that Dr. Foley has given us at UWRF in helping us improve our mathematics program. I understand that one of the goals of the [FIPSE] project is to develop 'workshops to foster adoption and adaptation of the approach by other universities and colleges in the University of Wisconsin System.' Given Dr. Foley’s success in assisting us with our program, I can state without reservation that Dr. Foley has the commitment and skills necessary to fulfill this important aspect of the proposal. Dr. Foley’s grant proposal promises to enrich not just the UW-Stout campus, but the entire University of Wisconsin System."