Really Old Math Person Chapter 1 A college degree is an important life goal!

No High School Diploma $19,915 Annual Income High School Diploma $29,448 Annual Income Bachelor’s Degree $54,689 Annual Income Advanced Degree $79,500 Annual Income If you don’t believe me, look it up Census Data

This chart shows the percent of companies who say, “I really wish I could hire someone right now who has…” 10%20%30%40%50%60%70% HS Diploma or GED Vocational Associate Degree Academic Associate Degree Bachelor’s Degree Source – Employer Survey 2004, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

I’ve been saying that for centuries. Most companies are looking for employees with skills learned in a math class Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking Positive Work Habits & Attitudes Communication Skills Source – Employer Survey 2004, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

Chapter 2 You can get ready for a college degree now!

College students who took this many years of high school math… Percent returning to college after their freshman year Average First term GPA Four years91%3.0 Two years86%2.8 Below77%2.5 Source – Making the Transition from High School to College in Ohio 2005: A Statewide Perspective, Ohio Board of Regents. You need to be ready to STAY in college, too.

“Of all pre-college curricula, the highest level of mathematics one studies in secondary school has the strongest continuing influence on bachelors degree completion..” Adelman, C Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and Bachelor's Degree Attainment. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education.

This chart shows a lot of things, but mostly that Calculus students are best prepared for college. If you’re not ready for Calculus, don’t worry…but do take a math class!

Demonstrates intellectual engagement Takes responsibility for own learning Perseveres when faced with time-consuming or complex tasks Pays attention to detail These characteristics describe me perfectly. They can describe you too... no matter which math class you chose! The next slide sums it up perfectly…

What’s needed for high school students to be ready for college? Take more rigorous math and more years of math in high school Take math and/or math-based science in the senior year Understand why math is important Know what preparation is needed for college Source – What's needed for high schoolers to be ready for college © 2004, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, What's needed for high schoolers to be ready for college

Chapter 3 Once you’re ready for college, you need to be ready to take a college- level math class, but first the test…

WASL Standard Source – Relationship Between the WASL and Placement Tests Used by Community and Technical Colleges, Social & Economic Sciences Research Center, WSU 2002 Well for Newton’s sake, the WASL isn’t designed for college placement; it’s a 10 th Grade test!

WASL College-Level Course Placement Tests You can’t expect these tests to be the same; they measure different things… WASL is a 10th grade exam College Placement Tests are taken at the end of the 12th grade WASL exam includes Algebra, Geometry Probability, Statistics, Problem-Solving and Application problems College placement exams may test all of these concepts, but place particular emphasis on Algebra & Functions at a higher level Multiple-choice, short answer and extended response Multiple-Choice only Calculators No Calculators

Spokane Community Colleges School Entrance Requirement in Mathematics Placement Test SCC and SFCC Any Level of High School Math COMPASS or ASSET Do not use these as official statements. Contact the school to get current and official admission information. If an airplane leaves Spokane at 1 pm traveling at 550 mph, and another airplane leaves Athens at 4 pm traveling 100 mph slower, when will they meet?

Washington Universities Do not use these as official statements. Contact the school to get current and official admission information. School Math Entrance Requirement Placement Test EWU 3 years – Algebra I, Geometry & Algebra II (or Core 1 through 3) APTP _center/aptp/index.html _center/aptp/index.html WSUAPTP, ACT or SAT UWAPTP CWUAPTP, ACT or SAT Compass WWUAPTP Whitworth3 years recommendedNo placement test

Chapter 4 What if you take a placement test, but don’t place into college-level math?

Developmental vs. College-Level Mathematics Coursework Pre-Algebra Courses (Community Colleges) Basic Algebra Courses Intermediate Algebra Courses Precalculus Math for Liberal Arts Finite Math Math for Elem. Ed. Probability/ Statistics Other Developmental Math Courses bring a student up to college level. They do not transfer or count for college credit. Why does it matter?

more time to degree The cost of placement into developmental mathematics… more money more frustration in college courses that use mathematics There’s more evidence on the next slide!

A Closer Look at the Costs # of Dev. Ed. Classes Taken Additional cost at SCC or SFCC* Additional cost at EWU* Additional cost at WSU* 1$370.50$713$1470 2$741$1426$2940 3$ $2139$4410 4$1482$2852$5880 * Based on tuition rates for 5 undergraduate credits.

Did you know that more than 80 % of high school graduates say they would work harder, and take tougher courses, if they could do high school over again?

Chapter 5 I just love testimonials!

“I really think math should be a four-year requirement. If I had had a better experience in high school, I would have been more successful in college-level math.” Jill placed into Basic Algebra (a developmental course) at EWU in the Fall of 2005.

Take math seriously. Retain as much as you can, or you will just be wasting time in High School, you'll also be wasting time in College trying to catch up. Take math. It's worth it !

If I had a long lever and a place to stand, I could move the earth. But seriously, I couldn’t do it without math.