Gateway Initiative Hillsborough Community College Spring 2008 Preliminary Results

Results from Fall 2007 Two courses began interventions: MAC 1105 (College Algebra) and PSY 2012 (General Psychology) No significant differences found in either Negative gain scores prevalent Faculty asked to make modifications for posttests

Results from Fall 2007 MAC 1105 Suggestions: Faculty include the posttest questions as part of the final exam to decrease negative gain scores Continue to implement interventions consistently

Results from Fall 2007 PSY 2012 Suggestions: Faculty should identify a viable solution to the problem of negative gain scores and implement it for the Spring 2008 Posttest Continue to implement interventions consistently

Spring 2008 INTERVENTIONS/ ANALYSIS METHODS: MAC 1105 (College Algebra) Cumulative Homework Group Test Review PSY 2012 (General Psychology) Clickers Sophomores Only approach

Spring 2008 BASELINE DATA: ACG 2021 (Financial Accounting) CGS 1000 (Intro. to Computers & Technology) ECO 2023 (Principles of Microeconomics)

Results, Spring 2008: MAC 1105 Posttest questions included as last page of final exam Percentage of negative gain scores decreased No statistically significant results

Results, Spring 2008: MAC 1105 Pretest/Posttest: Students taking Pretest:524 Students taking Posttest:436 In Control groups208 In Group Test Review98 In Cumulative Homework130

Results, Spring 2008: MAC 1105 Helpful Learning Resources: Textbooks68.8% Instructor Demonstrating Problem Solutions 58.5% Types of Homework Problems Assigned 51.4% Obstacles to Success: Test Anxiety29.1% Not Enough Time for Homework22.0%

Results, Spring 2008: MAC 1105 Additional Learning Resources Needed: Improved Study Skills32.6% More Group Work18.6% More One-on-Ones w/ instructor16.3%

Results, Spring 2008: PSY 2012 Reduction of negative gain scores No significant results with either the Clickers intervention or the Sophomores Only analysis

Results, Spring 2008: PSY 2012 Pretest/Posttest: Students taking Pretest:240 Students taking Posttest:223 In Control groups97 In Clickers92 Sophomores Only34

Results, Spring 2008: PSY 2012 Helpful Learning Resources Instructor70.4% Test Reviews47.8% Textbooks 43.2% Using Clickers34.9% Obstacles to Success Test Anxiety40.9% Other14.3%

Results, Spring 2008: PSY 2012 Additional Learning Resources Needed: Improved Study Skills40.5% Other20.3% More time in class18.6%

Results, Spring 2008: ACG 2021 Pretest/ Posttest demographics: Students taking Pretest:394 Students taking Posttest:218 Students taking both:189 Student Characteristics: Never taken an Accounting course:66.2% Work hours 46.2% Full-Time Course load49.4% Not receiving financial aid43.1%

Results, Spring 2008: CGS 1000 Pretest/ Posttest demographics: Students taking Pretest:982 Students taking Posttest:556 Students taking both:421 Student Characteristics: Successfully completed HS computer course: 56.5% Work hours 35.5% Not receiving financial aid40.0%

Results, Spring 2008: ECO 2023 Pretest/ Posttest demographics: Students taking Pretest:288 Students taking Posttest:81 Students taking both:68 Student Characteristics: Successfully completed HS Econ. course: 63.9% Work hours 41.0% Not receiving financial aid48.3%

Comparisons: Fall ’07 and Spr. ‘08

Suggestions for Fall 2008 Make imbedding posttest questions in final exam a common practice across all Gateway courses Employ incentives for students to take Posttest seriously To the extent possible, make all tests scannable Make sure that all scores on scanned tests have been bubbled in correctly…

Suggestions for Fall 2008 CONTINUE DOING A GREAT JOB!