What is an Academic Excellence Workshop?

 Group study, facilitated by trained peer leaders  Little to no lecturing  Interactive coaching, nurturing, mentorship

 Dr. Uri Treisman established the Mathematics Workshop Program as a component of the Professional Development Program (PDP), an affirmative action effort of the University of California Academic Senate, Berkeley Division.  Graduate instructors

 This approach was a Substantial departure from the individualized tutoring, self-paced instruction, mentoring, and study skills courses which constituted the pedagogical methodology of institutionalized minority programs.

 Transition from Graduate instructors to Undergraduate facilitators via MEP.

Recruitment Summer Program

MEP Clustering AEW Group Study Introduction to Engineering Course

MEP Advising and Counseling Peer Mentoring Scholarships

MEP Industry Advisory Board Employment Opportunities Professional Development

 Academic Excellence Workshops clusters MEP students in common sections of their chemistry, math and physics courses and requires group study of the students who are clustered in these classes.

Expected outcomes:  Academic performance/Retention  Group study skills  Group study appreciation

 Facilitator Selection ◦ Prior AEW participant ◦ Outgoing personality ◦ Communication skills  Facilitator Training ◦ 2- day session

 AEW Facilitator  Why did you do that?  Is this problem similar to any others you have worked? How?  How do you know your answer is correct?  What do you think?  Is there another way to do this?

 Faculty Involvement ◦ Designated Clustered Class ◦ Agree to meet with Facilitator ◦ Provide and Review Results

AEW Rules  Not remedial  Not a homework problem session  Never help one individual with homework in AEW  Facilitator hours  Informality over formality

 Priority Registration  Permission numbers  Scheduling

 Science Educational Enhancement Services  Share AEW  LSAMP-funded, et. al.  Departmental and College collaboration

 Campus-wide adoption of AEW  Realities of the economy

 “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.  “It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.”It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.  “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.  -Albert Einstein

 Thank you for having me!  -Milton