Discussed current progress in each section. Most sections are either finishing chapter 5, or in the middle of chapter 5.
Discussed problems with the textbook.
Exercise 6.2.42 should be deleted or replaced.
Remove "local" in the 6.3.1-8(iii) exercise directions.
Consider modifying directions for graphs. Perhaps scaling of the axes should come later after some data is obtained. For example, in section 5.1 it's best to get a table first and then figure out an appropriate scale.
Discussed assessment plans.
The assessment cycle is:
Determine goals and objectives (SLO's).
Decide how to assess.
Assess and gather data.
Analyze data.
Report
Then repeat the cycle.
Ideas:
A common exam on graphing calculator skills.
Some common multiple-choice questions on the final exam.
One or more graphing-by-hand problems on the final exam, with detailed grading rubric.
Action plan:
Bring 6 multiple-choice questions to the next meeting, one from each of chapters 1-6.
Bring two graphing-by-hand problems to the next meeting, from chapters 1-6.
Discussed the need for a departmental conversation on the relationships between Math 106, 120, and 30. Math 120 is still too long. How should these course topics be changed to avoid too much overlap but still cover essential topics?
Discussed assessment plans.
Final exam policies for Spring 2008 (so far):
The final exam will be a mixture of multiple choice and written problems.
The common portion will be administered first, then the portion written by the individual instructor.
No reference book may be used on the common portion.
Calculators may be used on the common portion.
The problems on the common portion will test basic skills.
Review sheets and practice exams should be written to avoid any clues as to the nature of the common problems.
Discussed and decided on specific problems for the common final. The details will not be given in these minutes.
Discussed a common exam on calculator skills:
The calculator exam will be given in class (not during the final exam period), and will count as part of the course grade.
The same review sheet should be used for all sections.
Action plan:
Current common final questions will be typeset and presented at the next meeting for critique and a possible grading rubric.
Bring 2 or more graphing calculator problems to the next meeting.
Discussed current progress in each section. Most instructors are in the middle of chapter 7.
No new problems with the textbook.
Discussed assessment plans.
Discussed the wording of our current common final exams questions. Several changes were made. We also looked over the course learning outcomes and correlated the exam questions with the outcomes. All outcomes are represented except for #2 (real-world applications) and #5 (characteristics of an effective learner).
Discussed and decided on specific problems for the graphing calculator exit exam. The details will not be given in these minutes.
The calculator exam will be given in class (not during the final exam period), and will count as part of the course grade.
The same review sheet should be used for all sections.
Discussed the possibility of correlating exam data with Accuplacer results, course grades, and end-of-semester survey. Also discussed the possibility of correlating statistics from Optimath with student learning outcomes.
Action plan:
Current common final questions will be typeset again and presented at the next meeting for critique and a possible grading rubric.
Current graphing calculator questions will be typeset and presented at the next meeting for critique and a possible grading rubric.
Bring 3 multiple-choice problems to the next meeting, from chapters 7, 8, and 9.
We'll also discuss an end-of-semester survey on the textbook, and strategies for encouraging reading of the textbook.
We need to find a scantron machine that will provide cummulative results.
Discussed the issue of uniformity regarding the common final exam questions. The common portion is getting significant in terms of length, which might cause time problems for students in some classes. Other options would be a shorter common section, or a complete common final exam. We'll discuss this further at our next meeting.
Discussed the possibility of using student reference books for assessing SLO #5.
Action plan:
Bring 4 simplification problems, 4 problems on solving equations, and 2 applications to the next meeting.
We'll also discuss an end-of-semester survey on the textbook, and strategies for encouraging reading of the textbook.
In order to assess SLO's #1-4 and #6-7, we will give a multiple-choice pretest and posttest containing 15 basic questions related to these SLO's.
The pretest will be given by all sections on the first day. The posttest will will be given as the first part of the final exam. The questions will be the same on the pretest and posttest. Instructors can then add their own additional questions on the final exam.
The pretest will not count as part of the course grade, but the posttest will be part of the grade. Calculators will be allowed on both pretest and posttest.
A common graphing calculator quiz will be given by all sections during the last week. This will provide more detailed assessment for SLO #3. This quiz will count as part of the course grade.
We will likely use student reference books for assessing SLO #5. We will discuss this idea further at the next meeting.
Action plan:
All instructors will send out an email survey to their students on the textbook and the online testing system during the last week of this semester. Comments from all sections will be compiled and distributed, and then discussed at a future meeting.
Bring 6 more multiple-choice problems for the pretest/posttest to the next meeting. We'll then finalize the questions for the pretest/posttest.
At the next meeting, we'll also finalize plans on how to use student reference books for assessing SLO #5.
Dave will schedule a time to do informal evaluations with associate faculty.
Review of Department Web Page
Dave reviewed resources available on department webpage.
Faculty are encouraged to install subversion to have access to and the ability to edit department documents.
Aeron will work with Dave to create a screen snapshot video tutorial on using subversion.
Review of Math 120 Course Page
Alert students to links on Math 120 page: Videos, OPTIMATH practice problems, etc.
Math 120 instructors need to review student survey reports and common test results.
If you have not yet done so, send your Math 120 Homepage link to Dave.
Multiple Uses of the Text Book
Give students the CD on the first day of class.
From the CD, have them click on start.html. This will take them to the same view as the online version
Show the students the many ways to use the book:
Students can download an entire chapter
They can download just the chapter reading
They can download just the problem set
etc.
Discussion of Pacing and Schedule
Sample schedules are available on Moodle
Try to finish Chapter 1 by the first week
If out of time make sure to cover sections 9.1 & 9.5
Ideas for teaching certain topics were discussed such as:
For Sect. 3.5 have students use a full sheet of graph paper, scale axis, and plot the data. Then have them draw what they think is the line of best fit and find the equation of that line. After they do that have them find the approximate answer on their calculator.
Kevin has a good Java applet for linear regression on his website.
In Attendance: David Arnold, Steve Jackson, Bruce Wagner, Mike Haley, Aeron Ives, Diane Harrow, and Michelle Moreno
Most instructors are either finishing Chapter 3 or just beginning Chapter 4.
Survey data was discussed with the following observations and recommendations:
Wordiness of Textbook - It is recommended that instructors help students go through the textbook by working out the examples in each section and explaining the numbering system to them.
Solutions Manual - Many students complained that solutions are not detailed enough. If necessary the group will split up the task of filling in the missing detatils.
Analysis of survey data will be continued next meeting - Continue to send observations and recommendations to Dave.
Dave has scheduled classroom visits with associates.
In Attendance: David Arnold, Steve Jackson, Mike Haley, Aeron Ives, and Diane Harrow
Most instructors are either finishing Chapter 6 and some are well into Chapter 7.
Optimath survey data was discussed with the following observations and recommendations:
It was suggested that some sort of syntax checker would greatly alleviate student difficulties with syntax. I shared this with Bruce later on and there is one already implemented that works only with Firefox.
A suggestion for a Camtasia tutorial showing students how to log into the Optimath system was made by Aeron.
There was a discussion of a Camtasia tutorial on syntax.
There was a call for more multiple choice questions in the early testbanks for Optimath in Math 120. It was thought that this would alleviate some syntax difficulties, allowing more "buy-in" by instructors and students.
In Attendance: David Arnold, Steve Jackson, Mike Haley, Aeron Ives, Bruce Wagner, Diane Harrow, and Michelle Moreno
Most instructors finishing Chapter 7. Some are half way into Chapter 8.
Continuation of Optimath survery data and suggestions:
It is strongly recommended that instructors have their students read the Optimath Practice Instruction Sheet and then take the Optimath practice test. The instruction sheet can be found at, found at: http://msenux.redwoods.edu/online/optimath.html.
Aeron will make Camtasia videos for Optimath login procedure and syntax, to include interval notation and other problems that come up in the first few chapters. Target for completion is beginning of Spring 2009.
The graphing calculator test results were discussed with the following common issue and suggestions:
Students have difficulty with "OR."
It is possible that interval notation should have been tested separately.
Clearly, intervals need to be stressed more in Math 380.
The next meeting will be before the start of the Spring semester, time TBA.
