Plato Users Meeting

1
Plato Users Meeting

• St. Petersburg College
• April 22, 2005
• Liana F. Fox, Ph.D.
• Mathematics through Distance Learning

2
Todays Points

• Basic Course Design
• Increasing Retention
• Increasing Success
• The Future

3
Basic Course Design

• MAT 0024 MAT 1033 MAC 1105
• Webpage http//www.hccfl.edu/facultyinfo/lfox/
• Texts
• Payment
• Grading

4
Retention Issues

• Pre-requisite checks
• CPT
• MAA BA test (25 items)
• 7 9 MAT 0024
• 10 -12 MAT 1033
• 13 MAC 1105

5
ORIENTATION

• Mandatory
• Hands on
• Syllabus
• FAQs
• Student Information Sheet
• ..\FALL 2004 Syllabi\Syllabi SPRING 2005\SPRING
  2005 STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET MAC 1105.doc

6
Profile of a Successful DL Student

• Met the pre-requisites
• MAA Basic Algebra Diagnostic Test
• 7 for MAT 0024 10 for MAT 1033 13 for
  MAC 1105
• Had daily access to reliable, up-to-date computer
  equipment.
• Able to carefully read and follow directions.
• Able to meet deadlines.
• Not defeated at the first sign of things not
  going as expected.
• Comfortable without regular face-to-face teacher
  contact.

7
The Instructor as Enforcer

• Evaluate Deadlines
• Penalties
• Minutes per week
• Email contact internal vs. external
• The homework question
• On campus testing

8
How do you measure Success?

• Compare to on campus math courses?
• Compare to other DL courses?
• Is Withdraw a failure for DL student?
• Limits on Incompletes?
• Limits on Repeats?

9
Abra cadabra Plato please make appear

• Web-based access no CDs
• Electronically graded homework
• Email links
• Test Generator better correlated
• Electronic Grade book
• Internal email enhancement
• Wrap-around titles
• Narrow Selections by Topic

10
Future challenges for HCC

• Campus Cruiser
• Student enrollment/upload improvement
• Lab fees/textbook pick-up?
• Competitive pricing
• Administrative endorsement
• Faculty recruitment/training
• Consistent statistical analysis
• Access to campus services

11
Future challenges for L. Fox

• Early contact and placement analysis
• Solve the Drop/Add dilemma
• Strengthen orientation Include student
  testimonials
• Encourage end-of-term registration for next
  course

12
How bout you any ideas???