Supplemental Instruction Workshops
in Gateway STEM Courses
at Cal State Fullerton
and Santa Ana College
Dr. Marty Bonsangue,
California State University, Fullerton
Dr. Cher Carrera,
Santa Ana College
Dr. Chris Renne,
California State University, Fullerton
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Targets key gateway courses for STEM
majors in biology, chemistry, and
mathematics
Linked to specific classes and sections
Led by student SI Leaders –
“teacher-free” zone
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Targets key gateway courses for STEM
majors in biology, chemistry, and
mathematics
Linked to specific classes and sections
Led by student SI Leaders –
“teacher-free” zone
Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Flexible approach to SI according to
needs
Students actively work on key concepts
and problems – increased time on task
More than 40% of SI students and
leaders are from STEM underrepresented
minority groups
SI Leaders
Are linked to specific
classes and sections
Attend class sessions
Receive training on
using active learning
Meet weekly with
faculty coordinator
SI Leader Training Summer 2010
SI at CSUF 2009-10
Spring 2009

9 workshops, 9 SI leaders, 130 students
Fall 2009

18 workshops, 16 SI leaders, 250 students
Spring 2010

24 workshops, 23 SI leaders, 420 students
Fall 2010

30 workshops, 28 SI leaders, 500 students
SI at CSUF 2009-10
Targeted courses include
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College Algebra
Precalculus
Calculus I & II
General Biology
O-Chem I & II
P-Chem
Biol 171 SI Group
SI Nuts & Bolts
SI leader cost is
$1,500 per SI section
Optimal SI section
size is 15-18 students
SI Leader training and
development is critical
Funded using CNSM
department resources
and Title V and
Project GPS2 grant
monies
CSU Fullerton SI Participation
Spring 09 – Spring 10
Sp
09
Fa
09
Sp
10
SI Student
Participants
163
370
440
SI
Workshops
9
(3*)
21
(13*)
24
(18*)
Course
Sections
Linked to SI
7
18
22
Impact of SI at CSUF
Passing Rates & Course GPA
SI vs Non-SI: 82 % compared to 64%
SI vs Non-SI: 2.6 compared to 1.9
Student Perception
88% say it helped
95% would tell their friends to do SI
Evidence of limited self-selection effects
Impact of SI at SAC
Six sections of 2 Biol Courses, 3 Sections of
Math 80, 1 Section Chem 219
Course Grade (%)
SI: 81% vs Non-SI: 64%
Course Average 68%
Retention Rate in Course (%)
SI: 92%
Course: 70%
Evidence of impact on SI Leaders’ selfperceptions as STEM majors
Implications of SI Participation
Evidence of increased timely completion of
required key gateway courses
Evidence of decreased repetition of required
math and science courses
Evidence of higher grades
Potential for decreased time to graduation
Potential teacher development for SI leaders
15-second Intermission (part 1)
Students entering college this fall…
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Were most likely born in 1992
Know Al Gore as a character on
South Park
Don’t use phones with cords
Don’t know a time when DNA fingerprinting
and maps of the human genome didn’t exist
Believe Russians and Americans have
always lived together in space
CSUF & SAC…
A strong connection
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Just 8 miles apart along the same freeway
Many of SAC faculty are CSUF graduates
Some faculty teach at both schools
Some students attend both schools
Many students transfer from SAC to CSUF
CSUF & SAC…
A great relationship
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Teaching and learning
symposiums
Support of articulation
agreements to create a
model transfer pathway
Curriculum development
Cooperative grants to
support student success
Current cooperative grant
activity includes:
TEST:UP
Talent Expansion in Science and Technology:
an Urban Partnership
Project GPS2
Guiding and Preparing Science, Technology,
Engineering, & Math (STEM) Students
Full MT2
Fullerton Mathematics Teacher and Master
Teacher Fellows project
TEST:UP
is…
Talent Expansion in Science and Technology:
an Urban Partnership
This National Science Foundation Grant links
California State University, Fullerton with Santa Ana
College and Mt. San Antonio College together in
activities and initiatives that will produce more
science, technology, engineering and math transfers
to four-year institutions.
TEST:UP
is…
A 5-year, $2.5M collaborative
grant entering the 3rd year of
providing support to SAC’s
STEM students.
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Supplemental Instruction (SI)
Scholarships
Counseling
Mentoring
The TEST:UP Office is…
Staffed by Tammy Camacho
and Cathy Fernandez-Weston.
Cathy
Tammy
Tammy and Cathy are…
Experts in STEM
transfer and they are
looking for SAC’s
STEM students.
Not above bribery
when it comes to
helping our STEM
students succeed.
SI at SAC
This fall, SAC will have 10 sections with SI
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Bio 109 (3)
Bio 211 (3)
Bio 249 (3)
Chem 219 (1)
TEST:UP also supports SI in the Math Center
and the Biology Study Center
Study “25 to 35”
Research has shown that students will
retain more of what they study if they
spread their study sessions out over
time. Learn without cramming!
SAC students are on the lookout
for STEM Week activities…
STEM Fair
STEM Panel Presentations
Video Presentations
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Discovering Science: Naturally Obsessed
Journey to Planet Earth: Hot Zones and
The Urban Explosion
Application Workshops
15-second Intermission (part 2)
Students entering college this fall…
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Know Nirvana as a “classic oldies” band
John McEnroe has never played professional
tennis.
“Go West, Young College Grad” has always
implied “and don’t stop until you get to
Asia…and learn Chinese along the way.”
Czechoslovakia has never existed.
Food has always been irradiated.
Orange County, CA – The “OC”
The Real “OC”
What is Project GPS2?
A two-year, $2.24M, federally funded U.S.
Dept. of Education CCRAA (College Cost
Reduction & Access Act)
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program
Cooperative Arrangement Project
Partners:
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Fullerton College
Santa Ana College
Cal State University, Fullerton
What is Project GPS2?
Goals:
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Increase the number of Hispanic and other
low-income students attaining STEM degrees.
Develop model transfer/articulation agreements
between the community college/university.
Increase the number of future math/science
teachers & improve the knowledge, skills,
and abilities of prospective teachers in math,
science, and technology
Cooperative Activities
Symposiums and meetings
Mini-grants in Geology, Biology, Math
Funding STEM transfer students to
attend Transfer Student Orientation
Hosting the “What’s up with Calculus?”
lunch
SI Funding
Project GPS2 and SI Funding
SI training for facilitators each semester
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Provide stipends for facilitators and leaders
Participants from CSUF and SAC
Underwrote SI leadership for one
semester
Project GPS2 and SI Funding
Began with organic chemistry
 Often first course transfer students
encounter
 Critical gateway course
 3 – 5 sections
Expanded to include math, biology, physical
chemistry
Spring 2010 – 15 sections; now 17 sections
BA – Earth Science
Developed entirely in
partnership with
Community College faculty
Rationale:
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K-12 Teachers/STEM Majors
Careers in Earth Science related fields –
“Liberal Sciences” or “Environmental track”
 Resource management
 Law
 Policy making
Creating Synergy
Dependent people need others to get
what they want. Independent people
can get what they want through their
own effort.
Interdependent people combine their
own effort with the effort of others to
achieve their greatest success.
- Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Summary
SI workshops are strategically placed in key
STEM courses and led by well-trained
student facilitators who work closely with
faculty.
This model improves student performance
which ultimately will increase graduation rates
and keep more STEM students in the
pipeline.