Developmental Math Redesign
Wake Technical Community College
Raleigh, NC
Laura Kalbaugh
lmkalbaugh@waketech.edu
NC Redesign
Eight 4-week Modules
Three 16-week Courses
– Pre-Algebra
– Introductory Algebra
– Intermediate Algebra
–
–
–
–
–
–
Integers
Fractions
Ratios/Proportions
Linear Equations
Linear Graphing
Quadratic
Equations/Factoring
– Rational Equations
– Radical Equations
Wake Tech Implementation
• Students register for shell courses (DMS 001, 002, 003)
DMS 001
Any one module
1 credit
DMS 002
Any combination of two modules
2 credits
DMS 003
Any combination of three modules
3 credits
• Faculty awards non-course credit for each completed
module within the shell course - credit shows on transcript
• If student passes number of modules required for the shell
course, he receives a grade of “P” for the shell course –
transcript shows grade for shell course
Wake Tech Implementation
• Students work on
online curriculum at
own pace
• Required attendance
– meet all minutes of
shell course
• Instructor present at
all times
• Open lab time,
staffed by
instructors, for extra
help
Wake Tech Implementation
• Instructor
developed
workbook to
supplement online
curriculum
• Integrated in
checklist with
online
requirements
• Paper labs, some
practice, quizzes
and module tests
Implementation Considerations
• Students work at own pace – sometimes do not
progress at preferred pace – 75+% earn at least one
module
• Students may earn free modules – 3-6% are free
• Shell passing rate has not increased over previous
course design – but 75+% make some progress and
85+% persist
• This is a lot of work for instructors!
• Future plans include large lab (100 computers) with 5
instructors so students can be grouped by module
(maintain 20:1 student to instructor ratio)