BASIC SKILL INITIATIVE REQUEST FOR FUNDS
BSC Mission Statement
Our mission is to improve the retention, persistence, and success of basic skills
students.
Funds used from the Basic Skills Initiative should include one or more of the following:
1. Promote the use of effective practices in developmental education for administrative,
student services, and instructional programs.
2. Provide professional development regarding effective practices in developmental
education.
3. Work with Institutional Research in tracking basic skills students from entry to
completion.
4. Assess and evaluate the programs designed to improve student success.
Complete the form on the page below and email the form as an attachment to
bsc@redwoods.edu.
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BASIC SKILL INITIATIVE REQUEST FOR FUNDS
1. Describe clearly and in detail fund request.
We have completed the first draft of the Math Jam test banks and narrative. The courses using
these materials (MATH 301, MATH 302, MATH 303) have been highly successful in preparing
students to be placed at the proper level of mathematics course work (see SLO assessments
attached). The courses have also been utilized by continuing students to prepare for the next
math course in the sequence.
The MATH 302 materials need to be updated to better match our recently published textbook
and material. This course reviews the material from MATH 380 and allows students to place into
MATH 120 or MATH 194. The Optimath test banks have been extensively rewritten and the text
was not completed when the original narrative for MATH 302 was written.
The materials (narrative and testbanks) for MATH 301 and MATH 303 also need editing, but not
to the extent of MATH 302.
Currently the only faculty that have been teaching these courses are ones that were on the
development team and know the materials intimately. We need a faculty users manual so that
the materials can be delivered not only by CR faculty as a course, but also by high school
faculty preparing the students using the public site. A users guide for students is also needed.
Work with the local high school faculty explaining the materials and how to use them effectively
with their students planning on CR is also needed. We would like to book time at department
meetings at the local High Schools to promote Math Jam.
We also need to work with the advising staff at CR to make sure they understand the goals and
methods of Math Jam. A workshop scheduled with advising that is lead by the faculty teaching
the course would greatly enhance student services understanding of this program.
2. Describe how your proposal supports that Basic Skills Mission Statement.
The main purpose of the Math Jam project is to assist developmental level students in making
proper placement decisions in mathematics. This pupose will be greatly enhanced by: improving
the course materials to better represent the coursework that it is prepartory for, working with
student services at CR and the local high schools to increase participation in Math Jam by
incoming high school seniors, and make the project more accessible to faculty and students via
a users guide.
3. Describe anticipated expenses (attach another page if necessary).
Items:
Edit and enhnace course materials to include: write a users guide to the
project for faculty, students and advisors, edit the narratives for Math 302 to
be in line with the new Elementary Algebra text along with updates to the
narratives for Math 301/303, update all test banks (Math301/302/303) to
include problems better aligned with developmental math curriculum at CR.
This is approximately 6 tlus worth of work at the lowest associate faculty rate.
In fact, it will take most of the academic year to complete.
Site visitations of local high schools to include minimally: McKinleyville,
Arcata, Eureka, Fortuna. Faculty that have been teaching the course will
present to local high school mathematics faculty and counciling staff the
goals and methods of the project and why placement in mathematics is
critical to student success. This is approximately 2 tlus of work at the lowest
associate faculty rate.
Cost:
$4500
$1500
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Total $6000
4. Will any of this request require ongoing funding? If yes, please explain.
No
5a. List lead faculty and/or staff involved and/or responsible for the project
Michael Butler and Erin Wall
5b. List faculty and staff involved and/or responsible for the project.
Chris Panza and Amber Buntin
6. Intended Outcomes (include specific, measurable targets):
1. Increase in use of the Math Jam course and materials by incoming high school seniors.
Currently there is a very low participation rate. Base line data is given in SLO report from
Summer 2012.
2. Increase in knowledge of what the Math Jam project goals are among counciling and advising
staff county wide. If funded, will get base line data using Survey Monkey on how well the
advising staff understands the Math Jam project and the level of placement they currently
advise.
3. Better alignment of course materials with delelopmental mathematice curriculum and CR.
7. Assessment Plan (specify exactly what you will measure and how you will measure it):
1. Number of incoming high school seniors that enroll in Math 301/302/303 will be tallied
andkept track of longitudially. Currently there is a very low participation rate among this set of
students.
2. Continue to assess the placement results for students completing the course work. At present
100% of students retesting placed into the math course that were reviewing for. The numbers
here are quite small and once we increase participation rates among the intend audience
(incoming high school seniors) we hope to see that 100% continue.
3. Survey of the counciling and advising staff at CR and the local high schools to see if
knowledge of goals of Math Jam has increased. Will do a base line survey in Fall 2012.
8. Proposed Timeline (provide timeline details for activities including assessment schedule):
Course materials developed and edited will run from November 30, 2012 to August 1, 2013.
First meeting is scheduled for 11/30/12. Monthly meetings of faculty involved in project will
occur through out the remainder of the project.
9. Is this included on your most recent Program Review Needs Addendum?
No
Just a note, the Program Review form now calls this "Resource Request"
10. Is technology involved in your proposal? If yes, please explain the response from
technology support?
Yes, but there are no new resources required.
11. I understand that if granted, basic skill funds are to be expended in a manner that
predominantly benefits basic skills students. By accepting funding for this project, I agree to
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provide a written and oral report describing how well intended outcomes were met, the results of
the assessment, and how this information can be used in the future. Projects funded for two
semesters will require a mid-year update as well as a report upon completion. Please note:
This is a one-time allotment of funds. Any future funding is contingent upon the submissions
and granting of a new request and availability of funding.
12. Contact Person:
Michael Butler
13. Date Submitted:
10/12/12
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