Acceleration and STEM Pathways Jenny Freidenreich, Diablo Valley College Jfreidenreich@dvc.edu

Traditional Sequence Prealgebra  Beginning Algebra  Intermediate Algebra FALL 2015 results at DVC: COURSE Census Success Percent Prealgebra 340 206 61% Beg Algebra 511 231 45% Int Algebra 934 490 52%

Chances for success? 0.61 x 0.45 x 0.52 = 0.14274 Assuming Fall 2015 was a “typical semester” and assuming 100% retention in three semesters: 0.61 x 0.45 x 0.52 = 0.14274 14% of students who started in prealgebra would be ready for college-level math class in 1.5 years. 23% of students who started in beginning algebra would be ready for college-level math in 1 year. 52% of students who started in intermediate algebra would be ready for college-level math in 1 semester.

Raising Success Rates “By 2025, California will need 2.3 million more graduates who have earned a certificate or degree than it is on track to produce today. At least a million of those graduates need to have baccalaureate degrees. To reach this goal, California’s public and private colleges will need to produce 40% more graduates each year than they do today.” The Little Hoover Commission (2013) A New Plan for a New Economy: Reimagining Higher Education

Where are the jobs? Health services has become the largest employment sector in the state. Professional scientific & tech services is a high- paying sector that has fueled the recovery. It is projected that 41% of the jobs in California in the year 2025 will require a college degree. Currently, 34% of workers have a college degree.* * Public Policy Institute of California

Acceleration Statway/Quantway (Carnegie Foundation) Pre-statistics (CAP: California Acceleration Project) Note: the above 2 are pathways that terminate. 2-semester version of the traditional sequence: STEM acceleration at DVC!

Various Options at DVC Traditional Sequence (the bulk of our developmental ed classes) Self-Paced (ALEKS no lecture) Statway (about 4 sections) Accelerated Algebra (Math 85 & Math119)

Course Content Repetition of topics eliminated Study skills in the curriculum Accelerated Algebra I : Prealgebra plus linear equations and graphing linear functions. Accelerated Algebra II: Linear, Exponential, Logs, Polynomials, Quadratics, Square roots, Rational functions.

Cheaper, too! MyOpenMath.com for online homework Fewer units, but longer hours. No textbook! Resource materials for Instructor Students fill their binders with daily handouts which acts as pages of a textbook Student binders are graded twice/semester

Keep it fresh & creative!

College Skills & Support Part of the grade (I made it 6%) Binder Checks Time Management Math autobiography (Writing across the curriculum) Self-corrected practice tests

Fall 14 MAX Census Success Percent Math 85 35 34 26 76% 8 31% SP 15 15 11 73% Math 119 37 9 24% 14 79% Fall 15 33 20 61% 29 18 62% SP 16 48% 21

Overall Success 0.52 x 0.52 = 0.27 27% is better than 14%! OVERALL Census Success Percent Math 85 137 71 52% Math 119 114 59 0.52 x 0.52 = 0.27 27% is better than 14%!

Staying Open to Ideas Students are grateful for something new. Building student confidence is half the battle. Building community builds student confidence Math & science needs good ambassadors!