UNT Math Redesign Project

Neal Brand, Phil Turner, Mary Ann Teel, Marc Grether, Christopher

Johnson, Evan Brooks

Problem

•Large failure rate in Intermediate (1010)and College Algebra (1100)

•Students who take Intermediate Algebra unprepared for college algebra

•Too many resources going into 1010 and 1100

Background

• Approximately 1200 1010 students (fall)• Approximately 2000 1100 students (fall)• Student placement– Accuplacer– Class rank– High School math grades

Redesign Support

• UNT QEP program– Campus resources to redesign course– Community of practice

• Texas TCRP phase III (With NCTC)– Money to develop and plan for pilot (fall 2008)– National Center for Academic Transformation

(NCAT)

Proposed Solution: Math Emporium Model

• Effective– Alabama increased student success rate

From 45-50% To 60-65%80% HW/Quiz -> 90% ABCLess than 80% -> 50% ABC

– LSU significantly decreased number of lecturers without reducing student success rate

Summary of Advantage

Math Emporium Model

• Cost effective– Alabama $116/student -> $83/student– UNT plan: lecturer spends 2/3 time per section• No exam preparation• No grading*• Reduced lecturing• Standardized

– No graders– Probably no SIs

Math Emporium Model - Weaknesses

• Large start up cost– Computers– Furniture– Planning and organizing

• Computers less inspiring than humans• Emphasis is on drill and not larger problems

UNT Modified Emporium Model

• Students in lab 3 hours/week + 1 hour in class• Two distinct activities in class– Lectures to introduce topics coming up– Group projects to show bigger picture• Algebra Consultant Group• Applications of topic• Openness aspect• Historic aspect

Pilot Implementation Details

• Classes– 2 Sections 1010• 10 Lectures 5 Projects

– 2 Sections 1100• 5 Lectures 10 Projects

– 2 Sections 1010/1100• 7 Lectures 7 Projects

Pilot Implementation Details

• My Math Lab– 1100 Sullivan 8th Edition– 1010 Sullivan and Struve 1st Edition

• Space– Approximately 1200 sq ft– 40 Workstations – mostly circlular

UNT Redesign Contact Information

• Neal Brand neal@unt.edu• Mary Ann Teel mteel@unt.edu• Marc Grether grether@unt.edu• Phil Turner philip.turner@unt.edu