Mathematics 6-Year SLO Assessment Cycle

Where we started…

This was our first cycle of Student Learning Outcome (SLO) assessment. The course SLOs (CSLOs) and assessments were all written during the 2007/2008 academic year and the department began assessing CSLOs during the summer of 2008. The department decided to assess all CSLOs for each course each time that course was assessed.

Where we are…

MATH GROUPING / RESULTS/REFLECTION / ACTIONS
PRETRANSFER
MATH 20, 30, 64 / The Math Department’s Pretransfer Committee (PTC) discusses the pretransfer CSLOs, CSLO assessments, and CSLO assessment results on a regular basis. The PTC also examines basic skills success rates from the state. We found that a very small percentage of students who began the pretransfer math series at Math 20 made it through to transfer level math. CSLO assessment results indicate that pretransfer math students continue to struggle with solving various types of equations. For a detailed list of CSLO results, please view the TracDat results. The department recognized that more fulltime faculty with a strong background and leadership in pretransfer math were needed (see action item a). The Math SLO Committee recommended that we review all CSLOs to see if they were still effective and applicable. The Department retreat during the Fall 2012 semester was comprised of Associate and Fulltime Faculty and we discussed the pretransfer results and assessments (see action item b). The Math Department and the PTC researched and discussed innovative modalities for course instruction and pathways through pretransfer math (see action items c, d, e, f, g, and h). / The same actions were taken for all pretransfer courses.
  1. The Math department hired 3 fulltime faculty members who could demonstrate leadership in pretransfer mathematics—two started Fall 2011 and the third started in Fall 2013.
  2. CSLO assessments were revised effective Spring 2012. The revised assessments consist of five multiple choice assessment items per CSLO, for a total of 15 items. CSLOs were revised effective Spring 2013. We also revised the minimum competency level since the new assessments do not have a 70% score—as there are 5 items per CSLO, so we set minimum competency as 70% of students score at least 60%.
  3. The Math Department began offering accelerated courses with embedded tutors during spring 2012.
  4. The Math Department began offering hybrid courses during 2012/2013 academic year.
  5. The Math Department revised the curriculum for Math 30 and 64, effective Fall 2014.
  6. The Math Department requested funding from the Student Success committee for a Summer Bridge Program. Funding was approved and the first Math Summer Bridge was conducted during the summer of 2014.
  7. The Math department requested funding for a computer classroom during the 2013/2014 program review cycle. Funding was approved and construction will begin either during spring or summer of 2015.
  8. The Math Department is currently developing an alternate pathway to Statistics.

MATH 103 / Though all CSLOs met competency each time, the department had concerns regarding the length of time it was taking pretransfer students to progress to Statistics. / No action at the transfer level. At the pretransfer level we are developing an alternate pathway to Statistics.
CONCEPTS AND STRUCTURES OF ELEMENTARY MATHEMATICS I AND II
MATH 105, 106 / CSLO 3 from the second course, which addresses measurement, error, and conversion of units did not meet competency. This result led to the department having concerns regarding the curriculum and the need for a lab component for this course. / The department is in the process of revising the curriculum and adding a lab component.
MATH 115 / All CSLOs met competency. / No action taken.
MATH 125
College Algebra—(deleted effective Fall 2014) / The Math Department formerly had a Precalculus/Calculus Committee—we now have two separate committees for Precalculus and Calculus. We found that underprepared students were entering Calculus. There was much discussion about whether we should develop a STEM Intermediate Algebra course, require the 3 unit College Algebra (formerly Math 125) as well as Trigonometry and Precalculus (formerly Math 130 and 135), or to revise the three transfer courses, Math 125, 130, and 135. / The Math Department revised the curriculum. We revised the 3 unit College Algebra (Math 125) and 3 unit Trigonometry (Math 130) courses and changed them to Math 126 (Precalculus I) and Math 131 (Precalculus II), respectively. These two 4 unit courses replace the previous requirement for Calculus, which was Trigonometry (Math 130) and Precalculus (Math 135).
PREPARATION FOR CALCULUS
MATH 126, 131,130,135 / CSLO assessment results indicate that precalculus students continue to struggle with solving various types of equations. / The Math Department revised the curriculum. We revised the 3 unit College Algebra (Math 125) and 3 unit Trigonometry (Math 130) courses and changed them to Math 126 (Precalculus I) and Math 131 (Precalculus II), respectively. These two 4 unit courses replace the previous requirement for Calculus, which was Trigonometry (Math 130) and Precalculus (Math 135). Math 125 and 130 were deleted effective Fall 2014, and Math 135 will be deleted effective Spring 2015.CSLOs for the new curriculum were written during the 2013/2014 academic year.
CALCULUS
MATH 150, 150H, 155, 260 / The Math SLO Committee discussed assessment results and decided to review the Calculus assessments. / We revised the assessments during the 2013/2014 academic year.
MATH 226 / The Math SLO Committee discussed the results with instructors who typically taught Math 226. / The Math Department reassessed in Fall 2012 and competency was met for CSLO 1 but not CSLO 2. We reassessed again in Fall 2013 and competency was met for CSLO 2, but not CSLO 1. We need to discuss this course during the 2014/2015 academic year.
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND LINEAR ALGEBRA
MATH 265, 270 / The Math SLO Committee discussed the CSLO results with instructors who typically taught Math 265 and 270. / We reassessed in the spring of 2012. Competency was met at that time.
MATH PROGRAM / The Math Department has very few graduates, so we felt that course mapping CSLOs from the Calculus series would be a better evaluation of how we are servicing our students who are going on to Computer Science, Engineering, etc. The PSLO, which states: Given a function of one or more variables, apply appropriate techniques to differentiate and integrate the function, met competency each time. / We wrote our program SLO (PSLO) in Fall 2011. We mapped the CSLOs in Math 150, 155, and 260 which related to differentiation and integration to assess the PSLO. We have assessed our PSLO twice—in the academic years 2011/2012 and 2012/2013. Each time competency was met.

Where we want to go…

The Math Department plans to request more Lecture Hour Equivalent (LHE) to:

  • Compensate for adding the new courses Math 50 and 95, which will provide an alternate pathway to Statistics
  • Compensate for adding a lab component to the Concepts and Structures for Elementary Mathematics I and II
  • Address the enrollment demands for Math 150, 155, 260, 265, and 270

The Math Department plans to request additional fulltime faculty

  • Given that we have made changes to the pretransfer curriculum and added programs such as the Summer Bridge, we need additional faculty who demonstrate leadership in pretransfer mathematics
  • Given the increased enrollment in higher level mathematics we need additional faculty who can teach the breadth of curriculum
  • The Math Department would like to continue to redesign our assigned classrooms to better utilize innovative technology.

The Math Department plans to request additional classroom space to compensate for our growth and better serve our students.