ITC 2012 - Long Beach, CA

Saturday: Developmental Math Online, Workshop, Donna Gaudet and Lisa Young

Donna teaches the full sequence each semester - Arithmetic, Intro to Algebra, and Intermediate Algebra.  She uses proctored tests as that seems to be the standard for math courses online. Her success rates are in the upper 70%, nearing 80%.

1.  Use technology like Animoto to introduce yourself to students and to make yourself more accessible. She also asks students to use Animoto to introduce themselves to her.  Her rationale is use of technology is a 21st century literacy.

2.  Requires a student orientation ahead of time.

3.  Course design:  

• vertical design
• consistent due dates:  Homework is due Mondays at 11:59 pm, Quiz and Testing on Wednesday.  Quizzes can be taken many times, an 80% pass rate is required.  Tests can be taken once..  The written assignment packets are due Thursdays at 7:00 pm.

4.  Flow (weekly)

•  Mini-lesson (replaces lecture):  Uses a Livescribe pen to deliver a 7 to 15 minute lesson, primarily example problems.  She includes a handout with the same problems on it - she asks students to turn in the handout with the problems worked out exactly the same way she does them on the mini-lesson.  
• Essentially she wants to see her work in their handwriting.  
• Students like to hear her voice.
• Homework:  These are problems they do on their own in MyMathLab.  A 90% success rate is required to move on.
• Quiz:  Also in MML.  Students can take quizzes multiple times, they ultimately need to get an 80%.
• Test:  Tests are handwritten, not machine gradable.  Students have to show work.  The test sheet is divided into 2 columns - one for the original time they take the test and a second column for corrections.  
• Corrections are required
• Students receive extra points for the corrections.
• Midterm and Final are proctored

5. Misc:

• Students turn in work via Filestork and Dropbox to reduce clicks for Donna.
• She allows students to work ahead.
• Structured flexibility:  due dates, but students can work ahead.
• Continuous feedback through MML.
• Transitioning from Livescribe to screencasting because of calculator -- TI Smartview (using Jing, but need Jing Pro, so have file type options beyond flash). 
• An option to MML is Wamap, which is free.

Lisa Young then talked about institutional good practices:

• Use Smartermeasure to  help students assess their strengths and weaknesses for online classes.
• Involve families in the discussion of "When are you going to study?"
• Use group work, scaffolding, rubrics to establish clear expectations, structured flexibility