The group developed professional learning resources in 2016-2017, which included National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA) http://learningoutcomeassessment.org/, Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) http://www.inquirybasedlearning.org, Project based learning (PBL) https://app.mysummitps.org/guest/courses, and Cultural competence and ACE (Academic Center for Excellence) resources.
IBL was piloted in 2016-2017 and the results were assessed in December of 2016. Adjustments were made in spring 2017. Then the faculty and instructional counselors had a retreat from August 7 to August 9, 2017. Worksheets were developed during the 2016-2017 academic year were compiled into a workbook for both MAT 101 Algebraic Concepts and MAT 115A Accelerated College Algebra. They were reviewed and edited during the August retreat. In addition, faculty discussed and shared their experience with IBL and growth mindset training which resulted in informal modifications and changes in pedagogy.
Two new instructional counselors participated and were trained in the teaching methodology used in the accelerated classes as well as productive struggle pedagogy.
Karen Heavin submitted an abstract to the Joint meeting of the AMS/MAA detailing the results of combining inquiry based learning, culturally responsive teaching, and growth mindset training. The abstract was accepted but due to financial constraints, the presentation was withdrawn. This presentation was going to include the research results from 2016-2017.
Spring 2018: A faculty member assumed the duties of corequisite coordinator for the spring 2018 semester and facilitated the weekly meetings to assist both faculty and Cl's in content management. A majority of the professional development continued to focus on course design and pedagogy. Contact hours for college algebra were changed from 50 minute sessions M-F to 100 minute MW and 50 minute on Friday. It became obvious it was it was essential to meet weekly and continually modify the curriculum calendar during the spring semester since the curriculum was designed for delivery in individual 50 minute sessions. Support and PD in IBL pedagogy was also discussed during the meetings.
On April 21, 2018, Hope Street Group facilitated a training workshop for IBL at the KY State Chamber of Commerce. In attendance were KSU math and science faculty, EKU and Owensboro math faculty, secondary faculty from our partner high schools and Hope Street Group Fellows. The workshop lasted from 10 – 3:30 and featured cultural competence/relationship based classroom training by Vince Mattox, Introduction to the Sandford Inspire on demand modules and IBL curriculum demonstrations and workgroup opportunities.
May 29 – 30 the math department conducted a 2-day retreat to begin the restructuring of the curriculum for MAT 101 and MAT 115A. In attendance were all math faculty, Chris Russey, Ethan Coats and Jordan Robinson. Discussions included the following:
MAT 101