Math-Retention Project at De Anza Community College Anne Leskinen Division Dean Physical Sciences, Mathematics & Engineering

About De Anza College Located in the heart of Silicon Valley in Cupertino, CA Operates on a 12-week quarter system Serves approximately 22,000 – 24,000 students per year Transfers approximately 1,800 students per year

About De Anza College Math Department 31 full-time instructors, 45 part-time instructors One divisional technology coordinator Full range of courses from prealgebra to differential equations and linear algebra Class size is 40

About De Anza College Math Department (cont.) Developmental math sequence consists of prealgebra, elementary algebra, and intermediate algebra Offer 175 class sections per year of developmental math (37% of all math department courses) 55% success rate in developmental math courses

History of Decision to Participate in Two-Year Math Retention Project Math Department needed software for use in review modules of developmental courses Particular software chosen for following reasons –conceptual approach with emphasis on understanding –flexibility of use –willingness of company to adapt software to our curriculum –cost to students (including no additional cost to students repeating class) –web based

History of Decision to Participate in Two-Year Math Retention Project (cont.) Math instructor, Susan Dean, piloted software in her classes in Spring and Summer 2004 Two-year Math Retention Project proposal made to De Anza in Summer 2005 We are currently in the 2 nd year of the project

Initial Analysis of What Was Needed Serious buy-in and support from key players –VP of Instruction, Judy Miner –VP of Student Services, Robert Griffin –Campus Institutional Researcher, Andrew LaManque –lead math instructor & counselor willing to participate in the project –Math Department Coordinator, responsible for scheduling math classes Computer lab technician Computer lab time

Initial Analysis of What Was Needed (cont.) Recruitment of more full-time & part-time math faculty to the project –workshops showcasing math software Coordinator for the project –1 st year shared by VP of Student Services, Institutional Researcher, & Division Dean Method of administering surveys –College Student Survey (CSS): time in class to administer and communicate results –Student, Staff and Faculty Satisfaction Survey: organized by institutional researcher & administered online

Problems and Their Solutions Turning verbal commitments into actions ex: availability of counselors –intervention with students in developmental math classes helps students to be successful elsewhere Questions/concerns of instructors & counselors working on the project –regular meetings to discuss problems and brainstorm solutions

Problems and Their Solutions (cont.) Coordinator for project –2 nd year: Barbara Fink, Math Instructor and former Math Dept. Coordinator Mechanics of students paying for software and receiving guides/books –collaboration between book store & software company

Problems and Their Solutions (cont.) Mechanics of administering the College Student Survey (CSS) –ongoing discussions with institutional researcher –students receive automatic with logon and password for CSS –time given in lab for CSS –counselor reports generated –student reports generated

Problems and Their Solutions (cont.) Mechanics of administering the CSS (cont.) –Counselors opresent reports to students in classroom ocontact at-risk students – intervention ohold special CSS office hours owork with instructors to help students remain in class

The Positives Participating instructors & counselors want to continue Students currently in the project want to take next class in sequence These classes are filled before other math classes More faculty are wanting to participate

The Positives (cont.) Good rapport developing between instructors & counselors involved in project Students feel supported by team approach Instructors report students engaged and definitely doing more homework Instructors & counselors learn more about their students and can give more focused assistance