STLF Report to CWSEI and Mathematics Department
STLF: Warren Code
Period: 1/2/10 – 12/2/10
Submitted: 12/2/10
Specific activities performed by STLF
1) Professional development
 Attended weekly STLF meetings (Feb 4, 11).
 Attended weekly Reading Group meetings (Feb 1, 8).
 Attended Math TA Endorsement Seminar, topic: Difficult Situations (Feb 4).
 Attended Graduate Certificate Program in Teaching session, topic: Inclusivity (Feb 5).
 Attended Science Supper Series, topic: Tracking Student Use of Vista (Feb 9).
2) MATH SEI general meetings/activity
 Attended weekly progress meetings with the Math STLF group (Feb 5, 12).
 Met with CW and SG to discuss the role of an STLF and my experience so far (Feb 4).
 Met with Wendy Adams to discuss computer lab assessment strategies and to learn about
attitude surveys (Feb 5).
 Met with Mark MacLean to discuss possible projects for next year (Feb 11).
3) Course-specific meetings/activities
MATH 152 – Linear Systems, MATLAB Labs
1. Weekly meetings with Instructor In Charge to review lab progress, midterm questions,
midterm student evaluations.
2. Developed linear algebra word problems for the midterm with Costanza Piccolo.
3. Assisted in review of Lab 3 document.
4. Observed sections of Lab 2 and Lab 3, and followed up with TA questions.
5. Attended bi-weekly Lab TA meeting (Feb 3).
6. Sampled student responses on midterms at the midterm marking session (Feb 5).
7. Reviewed course notes up to Chapter 4.
MATH 253 for MECH 2 – Multivariable and Vector Calculus, MATLAB Labs
1. Provided feedback on drafts of Lab 2 and Lab 3.
2. Attended meeting of the MECH 2 instructor team (Feb 2, 9).
3. Attended full lab sessions on Tuesdays (Feb 2, 9) and few quick checks on other days for Lab 1
and Lab 2.
4. Met with the computer lab TA to discuss experience with these same students in last term’s
computer lab, and to discuss strategies for assessing student difficulty this term (Feb 3).
5. Reviewed student surveys for Lab 1.
6. Continued collecting learning goals from last year into one document, combined with existing
learning goals draft (developed in 2009), and began review of these existing goals.
7. Received further materials with which to study MATLAB labs from Josh Caulkins (STLF in
EOS).
8. Met with the instructor to discuss transformation ideas for the computer labs and in class,
including lecture engagement strategies (Feb 11).
Current Project Status (material was prepared by either STLF or other members of the MATH
SEI group)
MATH 152
Learning Goals: Current version of Learning Goals has been posted on course website. We will
continue to collect new goals (especially “sense-making” goals) to add for next year.
Assessments: Pre-assessment data is being processed by our TA. MATLAB questions appeared on
the midterm exam and were well done (too easy?); the exam also included a linear algebra word
problem in the style of last year’s pre/post test with interesting results. Plans are underway for
some type of related assessment on the final exam. Preliminary look at the midterm evaluations
from students indicate that they find the MATLAB homework assignment questions “useful”.
New Methods/Materials: Simple MATLAB questions continue to appear on the homework
assignments. Computer Lab 3 revised to Course notes reviewed up to Chapter 4.
MATH 253 for MECH 2
Learning Goals: Draft of course-level learning goals posted on Math CWSEI website. Topic-level
learning goals exist; still being collected from existing materials and reviewed.
Assessments: Exit surveys from last year’s MECH 2 cohort after Math 253 and from this year’s
MECH 2 cohort after first semester are available. A weekly survey about the computer labs has
been developed and will be administered (measuring completion rates, use of resources, attitudes
towards learning goals) through the MECH 2 Vista site. Tried an existing in-lab programming
assessment checklist, but did not find it workable in this setting (will attempt to produce a
substitute).
New Methods/Materials: Lab 3 is nearly ready for release.
Plan for immediate future work
MATH 152:
1. Study the student responses to MATLAB questions on their (paper) homework assignments to
evaluate the difficulty level and feasibility of the question style in preparation for later
assignments in the course. This includes a further look into the midterm students evaluations.
2. Continue to observe labs and check with TAs.
3. Review pre-assessment data in an effort to discover issues of particular interest for observation
in upcoming labs (still being processed).
4. Review the final chapter of course notes.
MATH 253 for MECH 2
1. Put the Learning Goals into a more coherent, single document.
2. Develop an easy-to-use checklist for the TA to assess student problems in-lab.
3. Review possible Pair Programming strategies that may be possible in this lab setting.
4. Observe more labs and review student work to determine an assessment scheme for how well
certain lab concepts are used/how well certain common difficulties are overcome.
5. Plan some questions for this term’s exit survey that will complement and follow-up the weekly
lab surveys.