Intelligent Math Software: Smoke and Mirrors

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Intelligent Math Software Smoke and Mirrors?

• Bill Ganza
• Dir., Professional Development
• Chuck Lombardo, Ph.D.
• Dir., Creative Learning Services

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Welcome

• Goals
• Discussion
• Our experimental approach at FCCJ
• Intelligent Math software
• Our approach
• Demonstration
• Effective? Research base?
• Q A

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Discussion
Obstacles to success? What instructional
strategies seem to offer help?
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About FCCJ

• Developmental curriculum
• Student population
• Retention and performance

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Our Partnership

• The SIRIUS Project
• Alliance with McGraw-Hill

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One Experimental Approach

• SIRIUS
• FCCJ Math Supersite
• Common Feature is MathZone - ALEKS

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The Project

• Course development initiative 28 courses
• Goals
• professional development
• innovative courses to improve performance and
  retention
• Cut textbook costs by 50
• FCCJ created/owned instructional materials
• Use McGraw-Hill learning assets

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SIRIUS Math Courses
MAT 0002 Basic Mathematics MAT 0024 Elementary
Algebra MAT 1033 Intermediate Algebra
MAC 1105 College Algebra Statistics
Use custom built MathZone/ALEKS Website as key
component
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FCCJ Math Supersite
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Demonstration - ALEKS
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Demonstration - ALEKS
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Demonstration - ALEKS
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Demonstration - ALEKS
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Demonstration - ALEKS
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Demonstration - MathZone
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Demonstration - MathZone
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Demonstration - MathZone
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Demonstration - MathZone
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Our Results
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Our Results
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FCCJ Student Survey

• Results
• Would you recommend MathZone to other students?

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Would you recommend MathZone to other students?

• It is an excellent tool that is very helpful when
  a student cannot make it to the learning center.
  I believe it is the only reason i am passing my
  class.
• It is an excellent tool that is very helpful when
  a student cannot make it to the learning center.
  I believe it is the only reason i am passing my
  class.
• Emphatically, it is awesome in all ways even with
  the occasional wrong solutions on the exercises.
  I wish my current class used it. I use the self
  study option to help me with my current class.
• I already have to 4 students , I think it is one
  of the greatest ideas for learning math
• It helps you apply yourself more after class. Its
  just like a class out of class

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Successes

• U of Alabama
• Virginia Tech
• University of Illinois
• Black Hills State University
• Others

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Other Research

• Strengthening Mathematics Skills at the
  Postsecondary Level A Literature review and
  Analysis (2005)
• Disclaimer We were not able to identify any
  studies of developmental mathematics on
  instructional methods that were based on
  randomized controlled trial (RTC) experiments.
  (p.27)

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Studies Reviewed

• Cartnal (1999)
• CAI groups had higher retention, enrollment in
  higher math
• McClendon and McArdle (2002)
• Three delivery types no significant differences
• Kinney (2001)
• CAI, increased confidence and attitude

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More Studies Reviewed

• Quinn (2003)
• CAI and self paced use of PLATO significant
  increase on CPT scores
• Lancaster (2001)
• CAI, decrease in withdrawals, increase in
  satisfactory grades
• Conclusion ..the role of technology is that it
  appears to be most useful as a supplement to,
  rather than a replacement for, regular classroom
  instruction. (p. 33)

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Implementation

• Cost
• Customization
• IT Coordination
• Technical Support
• Evaluation
• FACULTY SUPPORT

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Questions
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Contact Information

• Bill Ganza
• wgnaza_at_fccj.edu
• Chuck Lombardo
• chlombar_at_fccj.edu