An Overview of Structured Learning Assistance Presented at Cleveland State University
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An Overview of An Overview of Structured Learning Structured Learning Assistance Assistance Presented at Cleveland State University Presented at Cleveland State University Julie Thatcher, SLA Program Coordinator Julie Thatcher, SLA Program Coordinator March 25, 2008
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An Overview of Structured Learning Assistance Presented at Cleveland State University Julie Thatcher, SLA Program Coordinator. March 25, 2008. Brief History of FSU. 1884 - Woodbridge Ferris founded Big Rapids Industrial School with 15 students - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of An Overview of Structured Learning Assistance Presented at Cleveland State University
An Overview of An Overview of Structured Learning AssistanceStructured Learning Assistance
Presented at Cleveland State UniversityPresented at Cleveland State UniversityJulie Thatcher, SLA Program CoordinatorJulie Thatcher, SLA Program Coordinator
March 25, 2008
Brief History of FSUBrief History of FSU1884 - Woodbridge Ferris founded Big Rapids Industrial School
with 15 students1899 - Institution renamed Ferris Industrial School1950 - Ferris joins the State higher educational system1963 - School is renamed Ferris State College1987 - Ferris becomes Ferris State University2001 - Kendall College merges with Ferris
Today FSU has 9 colleges and 170 degree programsFall 07 enrollment: 13,087 (9,680 at Big Rapids)
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FSU Admission RequirementsFSU Admission Requirements• Woodbridge Ferris believed in educational
access for all Michiganders• Prior to Fall 2002: 2.0 GPA, ACT were used
solely for placement • Fall 2002: 15 ACT or 2.25 GPA• Fall 2004: 16 ACT or 2.35 GPA• Fall 2006: 17 ACT or 2.50 GPA• Fall 2008: 18 ACT or 2.70 GPA*
*Fall 08 NOT YET APPROVED
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SLA Program HistorySLA Program History
Developed and piloted at Ferris in 1993 because− Discrepancy between academic expectations and student
readiness− Dozens of courses with pass rates of C- or better below 60%− Declining student retention− Desire to maximize direct transference of study and learning
methods to content areas− Limited academic assistance financial resources
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SLA Program HistorySLA Program History1993 - First experimental section of SLA in a history course1994 - SLA awarded a 3-year MI DOE 4-S grant to trial SLA1996 - SLA awarded a 3-year MI DOE 4-S grant to continue SLA1999 - Another MI DOE 4-S grant awarded to implement SLA in
developmental courses2000 - SLA awarded the Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence2001 - $500,000 FIPSE grant awarded to replicate SLA in four
institutions2002 - SLA became part of the University College base budget2004 - Apprentice program incorporated
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SLA Program HistorySLA Program History2006 - FSU Exceptional Merit Grant awarded to purchase a
Classroom Performance System (CPS). 2006 - Arlene Morton published "Improving NCLEX Scores with
Structured Learning Assistance" in Nurse Educator2007 - Summer conference to train multiple institutions to
implement SLA2007 - Two sections of SLA were adapted to investigate SLA's
impact on Michigan Test of Basic Skills2008 - SLA Symposium held March 17-18
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SLA Key FeaturesSLA Key Features• SLA targets courses (not students)• SLA works within established course offering systems• SLA promotes collaborative learning rather than
remediation• SLA enables faculty development• SLA is voluntary by enrollment, but mandatory by
practice
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Why SLA?Why SLA?• Tutoring does not reach large groups of students at once• Supplemental Instruction does not reach students who
will not voluntarily seek academic assistance• SLA integrates course content and methods • SLA provides more time on task• Aside from workshop time, the content, pace and
assessments are identical to that of non-SLA sections
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SLA Results in:SLA Results in:• Increased C- or better pass rates • Increased retention• Increased student academic independence• Collaborative study among students• Increased student study and learning strategies that
can be directly applied to the course content• Greater student understanding of course expectations • More informed faculty• Economical assistance for large numbers of students
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Attendance & Workshop PolicyAttendance & Workshop Policy
• The professor establishes performance threshold• Students performing above this grade are
encouraged but not required to attend• Required students who have more than 4 unexcused
absences must W or receive an F in the course• Students sign an attendance and workshop policy
statement of understanding
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Selecting CoursesSelecting Courses• High rates of failure • High rates of withdrawal • Developmental courses• Gateway courses• Courses in a necessary sequence • Required science courses for non-science majors• Required math courses for non-math majors• Faculty assignments
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Registration SystemRegistration System• Students know in advance which courses and sections are
SLA supported• Students can search for SLAs within the system • SLA workshops are built into student schedules • No conflicts arise• Program is voluntary in most cases• Banner System:
https://myfsu.ferris.edu/cp/home/displaylogin
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Student SatisfactionStudent Satisfaction
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0102030405060708090
100
Sp 05 F 05 Sp 06 F 06 S 07 F 07
Perc
ent
Semester
Student Questionnaire Results
Students who plan to use the study skills presented in SLA in future coursework
Students who believed they earned 1/2 to 1 full letter grade higher as a result of SLA
Students who would recommend SLA to others
Effectiveness MeasuresEffectiveness Measures
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Comparison of Average Pass Rates (Spring 1994 - Spring 2006)
3040
50607080
90100
Courses
Perc
ent
SLA Section(s) Control Section(s) Departmental Average
Semester Pass RateSemester Pass Rate
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Spring 2007 Pass Rates(C- or better)
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Course
Perc
ent
Control
Dept Avg
SLA
Semester Pass RatesSemester Pass Rates
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30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Perc
ent
Course
Fall 2007 Pass Rates(C- or better)
Control
Dept Avg
SLA
GPA & ACT AnalysisGPA & ACT Analysis
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Fall 2007 Pass Rates
50
60
70
80
90
100
ACCT 201 BIOL 108 CHEM 114 FINC 322 MATH 115
Course
Perc
ent Control
Dept Avg
SLA
Comparison of Average HS GPA and ACT Composite ScoresSLA Control Dept Avg
HS GPA ACT Comp HS GPA ACT Comp HS GPA ACT CompACCT 201 3.13 19.5 3.23 21.4 3.08 20.6
BIOL 108 3.25 20.6 3.38 22.1 3.50 23.1
CHEM 114 3.21 20.6 3.62 22.9 3.26 21.2
FINC 322 3.00 19.3 3.14 21.8 3.05 21.6
MATH 115 2.98 19.7 3.22 21.1 3.05 20.2
Learning OutcomesLearning Outcomes
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Improving NCLEX Scores with SLA
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50
60
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80
90
100
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Perc
ent
Graduating Year
NCLEX Pass Rates
Morton, AM. Improving NCLEX scores with Structured Learning Assistance. Nurse Educator. 2006; 31 (4): 163-165.
SLA Facilitator ActivitiesSLA Facilitator Activities• Lecture and Lab Attendance• Conducting Workshops• Integrate Content and Study Skills• Supervise Tutors• Support Faculty • Training and Professional Development• Program Evaluations & Observations
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Facilitator’s Typical WeekFacilitator’s Typical Week• 3-4 hours in class• 1 hour in collaboration with the course instructor• 2-5 hours planning and creating workshop materials• 3 hours in the SLA workshop• 2-3 hours in lab if applicable• Additional time “above and beyond”
SALARY RANGE$1250-2500 per semester
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Workshop ActivitiesWorkshop Activities• Lecture tips & review• Note taking methods• Textbook review• Content organization• Memory devices• Discussion formats• Games• Exam preparation• Active student participation
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Faculty ParticipationFaculty Participation• One hour per week for meetings with facilitator• Faculty report an increase in lecture time as a result of SLA
COMPENSATION?Faculty Participation is Voluntary
• Over two-thirds said that SLA provided much improvement in the learning atmosphere of their classrooms
• They observed a significant positive change in attitude among their students in the first 5 weeks of the semester
• More than 90% of faculty said they experienced an increased awareness of the needs of their students
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SLA FacultySLA Faculty• Maintain lecture attendance policy• Timely grading and posting• Assess frequently• Support SLA mission & practices• Participate in preliminary training• Attend SLA faculty meeting• Allow end-of-semester evals in class
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SLA FacultySLA Faculty• Collaborate with facilitator
– Share ideas for content delivery– Offer old quizzes for practice– Welcome facilitator feedback
• Discuss SLA success with students• Encourage students to attend• Visit the workshop
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Faculty Professional DevelopmentFaculty Professional Development• Initial Training• Weekly Meeting with Facilitator
– Feedback on clarity of content– Awareness of off-task behaviors– Student concerns– Concerns about students
• SLA Faculty Meet Once per Year• Currently Investigating Collaboration w/ Faculty
Center for Teaching & Learning
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Contact InformationContact Information
Julie ThatcherSLA Program Coordinator
820 Campus Drive, ASC 1045Big Rapids, MI 49346
http://www.ferris.edu/sla/
March 25, 2008
