Up the
Mountain
We Go
~
Launching an ALP Pilot
at a Small Community
and Technical College in
West Virginia
~
Stephanie Alexander, MEd
Assistant Professor of Reading
Mountwest Community & Technical College
Huntington, WV
SOON-TO-BE
MOUNTWEST COMMUNITY & TECHNICAL COLLEGE
FALL 2012
OVERVIEW OF PRESENTATION
• Mountwest CTC (institutional overview/success
profile/developmental education picture)
• Reading Program (history/evolution)
• Reading ALP (compressed /contextualization)
MOUNTWEST
INSTITUTIONAL OVERVIEW
•
•
•
•
Small, public 2-year institution
~ 250-300 employees (~110 full time)
4,000 students (full/part time)
Located in WV ~one of 10 state CTCs ~ranked about 5th
by SIZE
• Previously imbedded within 4-yr state university
• Became separate entity by state law
• Continued to be housed on university campus through
fall 2012
• Has grown considerably since separation ~2004
• Will be housed in own facility Fall 2012 (“The Move”)
MOUNTWEST
“SUCCESS” PROFILE
From IPEDS: Data are for full-time, first-time, degree/certificate-seeking
undergraduates
Overall 1-yr Retention Rate: 38.2%
(WV state avg 49.3 ~ National avg 51.4)
Mountwest CTC Graduation rates within 150% of
normal time to program completion:
Overall graduate rate: 10%
Men 8%
Women 13%
MOUNTWEST
THE DEVELOPMENTAL PICTURE
from: WV Higher Education Policy Commission and Community & Technical
College System’s Report Card 2011
% Developmental Passing Rates 2010
Mountwest
ENG/WRTG
54.4
MATH
35.7
READING
36.1
STATE (WV) Average
51.9
48.8
55.8
% Developmental Students Passing NEXT subsequent college level course
Within TWO years
ENG
38.4
(.544) (.357) [11%]
41.9
MATH
26.6
(.361) (.266) [9.6%]
18.9
Nationally - from Complete College America – (26 states)
20.5%
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
Prior to 2009 (aka “before my time”)
Elective ~ (little to no enrollment – approx 40-70 students
per year)
“1 teacher show”
Placement by accuplacer/ACT (below 80/18rdg)
Classroom based w/“Reading recovery room” style
tutoring when numbers were small
Nelson Denny Reading Comprehension test used a
pre/post test, and for exit (high stakes testing at end of
course)
2008-2009 –totally a literary based approach
emphasizing basic skills through the use of a literary text
with G.E. of middle school (i.e. - The Giver)
3 credit hour class/open enrollment
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
2009 – 2010 **the beginning of “my time”
Fall 2009 -ELECTIVE (less than 25 students)
Spring 2010 ~ placed as Pre-Req on many 100 level
course for all new admits who placement tested
Spring - 1 full time / 1 part-time instructor (evening)
Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in
academic success center
Used traditional text based on a metacognitive
approach- plus current events/short stories as
supplements (**read to learn with text/read to practice
with supplements)
Less than 50 students for the YEAR
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
MAJOR 2009 – 2010 ISSUES
• Low enrollment / Placement test ratio
due to: Students not being placed in course by student services ~
confusion in student services over pre-req/ rdg requirement for some
100 level courses
Solution : Student Services “enlightenment” by deans
Result: Enrollment surge for reading Fall 2010 ~
New Issue: over 75% NOT in-coming/first time freshmen (at risk for higher
attrition rates –test scores stale!)
• “Misplaced” students – Disgruntled Students – increased in # which
meant increase in # of misplaced students
Solution : Retest all on entry first week of class/ offer Challenge Test
• “open enrollment” range of need too great
Solution: Create 4 hour “leap frog” class ~ accuplacer 51 & below/or
by self-selction
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
2010 – 2011 ***year 2 of “my time”
 REA - functions as Pre-Req on many 100 level courses for all new
admits who placement test into reading
 Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in academic
success center
 Used traditional text based on a metacognitive approach- plus
current events/short stories as supplements
 Used Nelson Denny Comprehension section as the “challenge
test” to reassess/test out (Form G 62/Form H 64) – administered first
week of class
 ADDED “MyReadingLab” for basic skills enhancement
~(administration requested –aka “greasy of Pearson’s palm”)
 ADDED 4 hour class ( accuplacer 51 & below or self selection)
 1 full time / 3 part time instructors
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
MAJOR 2010 – 2011 ISSUES
• High attrition~ most students “gone” by 9th/10th week
Solution : course redesign – compression model
--frontload course/use modules to feed/build affective domain(progress appears
more concrete)
--offer opportunity to exit early (borderline students “refreshed” and can move on)
Result: Early Exit possible/finish as early as 8th week /could sign up for 2nd 8week 100
level content course
New Issue: no lab space for computerized testing of modules/modules would need to
be created the old fashioned way ~ by hand!
ALSO : consider/develop ALP companion class pilot for Spring2012 for contextualized
accelerated learning desired by the state of WV
• No designated lab Space for MyReadingLab ~ only 2 computers in ASC
Solution : discontinue use until labs are available
• Students not appropriately placed in 3 and 4 hour courses
Solution: enlighten student services Result: not much change
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM EVOLUTION
2011 – 2012(this past year)
 Pre-Req on many 100 level course for all new admits who placement
tested
 Fall : 1 full time / 8 part time
Spring : 2 full time / 2 part time
 Classroom based ~ additional tutoring available in writing center
 Used traditional text based on a metacognitive approach- plus current
events/short stories as supplements – **but content modulized
 3 and 4 hour classes offered (leapfrog style- same exit point for both
classes)
 ADDED FALL : Early Exit –compression model- 7 modules /delivered in 8
weeks – 2nd 8weeks used for individualized tutoring/module retaking Fall 47% out by midterm ~ 70 % for term
Spring 58% out by midterm ~ 66.67% for term
Total Overall Retention 68%
 ADDED SPRING: Companion Course – REA/ PSY
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
Pilot Development
Instructor Collaboration (REA & Content Instructors)
Course content adjustment
Scheduling/Teaching
Grading
Future Plans ~ Additional Pilots
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
INSTRUCTOR COLLABORATION
Types of content instructors to collaborate with:
A. The “Risk takers” (game for anything)
B. The “Good Sport”
(would do it for a friend)
C. Desperate? Try “persuasion”
(gee…hope these pics
don’t find their way to the
“meet the faculty”
web page…)
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
ALP Companion Class Pilots – Spring 2012
Had 2 classes prepared for Spring 2012 pilots:
REA/Psychology
REA/History
X X O XX
OX X OX
XO X XO
O XO XO
X O X OX
( 3 hour content class)
OOOOO
OOOOO
+
(2 hour REA section) = 5 hrs
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
CHALLENGE # 1 - little / no enrollment
 Little /No “marketing” by Student Services
did not understand ALP (“accelerated “??)
misconceptions regarding “need” for history/psychology credits
confusion over course designators (listed as sp topics/280)
 Student Reluctance
confusion due to language used “accelerated” ? (not for me!!)
course designator (280) – class appeared advanced
not sure if “needed” - (did not understand that these could fill social
science elective)
entailed 5 hour rather than 3 hour commitment (traditional REA is 3)
Solutions: Re-educate advising/scheduling staff re: ALP
Change course designators from 20s to 050s
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
Results:
 Run Psychology/REA Pilot as planned
Offered Spring 2012

 “Postpone” History/REA Pilot 
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
STUDENT PLACEMENT for PSY/REA
( basic ALP course design)
open content class of 25 has 8-10 REA students
PSY215
X X O XX
OX X OX
XO X XO
O XO XO
X O X OX
( 3 hour content class)
REA282
+
OOOOO
OOOOO
=
5 hr
(2 hour rdg section)
 FOR PILOT SECTION OF PSY - Added a pre-req of “sp topics” REA co-req for
those who did not ACT 18/ accuplacer 80rdg –
 SAME REA282 SECTION required for all students needing REA co-req
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
COURSE CONTENT
 Psychology Class – no course content changes – same all the other
PSY215 sections ~ same 3 credits
 Reading Class – designed as companion class that “supports”
psychology class content
** basic reading skills practiced within the context of the psychology
class’s reading demands ~ meets entire 16 weeks
** course changes: 1. no early exit opportunity /runs entire 16 weeks
2. only 2 credit hours instead of 3 or 4
3. must be attached to the psy class
4. all materials – psy related
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
West Virginia Developmental Education Task Force SUGGESTIONS
May 26, 2011
Common Learner-Outcomes for Developmental Reading courses
*** FOCUS – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
1.
Demonstrate active reading strategies (Skills: pre-read, read, review, outline and take
notes).
2.
Increase vocabulary development and word analysis strategies (Skills: ability to use
dictionary, thesaurus, understand and recognize word-parts, context clues, and create
and use graphic organizers).
3.
Develop literal reading skills (understanding what is stated ~ comprehension skills:
identify main idea and supporting details).
4.
Develop interpretive reading skills (understanding what is implied rather than what is
stated ~ comprehension skills: make inferences and draw conclusions and be able to
read visual aids).
5.
Develop critical reading skills (applying concepts and ideas ~ comprehension skills:
analyze and synthesize ideas, identify purpose and tone).
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
REASONING BEHIND COURSE CONTENT DESIGN OF REA
Objective of a REA companion course students will understand, develop
and use basic reading skills in order to produce the expected quality/level
of work in the content class
(approach: strongly metacognitive ) -- skills
are not taught in isolation or with random materials
Example:
 In PSY class students are expected to outline book chapters and identify
key vocabulary for each chapter as read
 In REA class, students are made aware that the reason they must outline
text chapters is in order to identify the main ideas of that chapters and to
identify key vocabulary ~ they are offered assistance in reading and
creating an outline that shows those main ideas , and assisted in creating
lists of key vocabulary for each chapter
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
Traditional REA
Companion REA for PSY
7 modules:
Four Activities :
1.
2.
Activity A – 1,2,3 (state guideline)
( ** x15 ) -M1, M2, M3 (trad REA)
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Module 1 - Skillful Reading
Module 2 - Vocabulary
Expansion
Module 3 - Topics & Main
Ideas
Module 4 - Supporting Details
Module 5 - Outlines & Concept
Maps
Module 6 - Thought Patterns
Module 7 - Inference/Implied
Meaning /Purpose
Activity B – 1,2,4, 5 (state guidelines)
- M1, M2 , M3, M4, M5, M6,M7
Activity C – 1,4,5 (state guidelines)
-M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7
Activity D – 1, 2, 4, 6 (state guidelines)
-M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
SCHEDULING & TEACHING
PSY215 MW 5- 6:15pm (HH 447)
REA282 M 6:30-8:30pm (HH 102)
1 (same) instructor for both sections
***however, could be collaboratively or team
taught
***scheduling conducive to “just in time” skills
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
GRADING
PSY 215 - letter graded class (A, B, C, D, F)
REA282 – CR/NC
treated as two separate classes / two separate grades
however co-req ~ this means:

if dropping one, must drop other
exception: Instructor permission could waive REA co-req
Why? Because student has demonstrated level of proficiency in
reading necessary to maintain passing grade in content class
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
RESULTS OF 2011-2012 Spring Pilot in PSY/REA
5 originally registered for REA / 3 “showed” &
participated
14 total /registered for PSY (~ 1/3rd of class REA)
All 3 received CR in REA and “B” or higher in PSY
Thus for the pilot group:
** 100% completion for REA282 AND
** 100% completion for 100 level class
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
Expansion Of REA - ALP
Fall 2012
Due to “THE MOVE” – (none offered due to scheduling
insanity related to moving to the new facility)
Spring 2013 pilots
1)REA/HIST (return of!)
plus 2) REA/COMM
(new recruit!)
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
CURRENT CHALLENGES
“THE MOVE”
Fall 2012 scheduling issues
Student Recruitment (persist!)
*create (yet another) informational “REA Options” flyer
for students
* inform student services of ALP opportunities (AGAIN)
Find willing content collaborators from content classes
MOUNTWEST
READING PROGRAM – THE ALP EVOLUTION
NUTS & BOLTS
FUTURE EVOLUTION OF REA - ALP
Next step: Integrate REA and DEV WRTG into 4 or 5
credit course
block schedule with math (4 hours) col 101 (1
hour) and IT 101 (3 hour) or similar 3 hr class
NEXT AFTER THAT : Create ALP companion classes
using the new Integrated ENG class plus Content
Class
targeted classes for pairing: “introduction to… “
CONTACT
EMAIIL
Stephanie Alexander, MEd
Assistant Professor of Reading
Mountwest Community & Technical College
Huntington, WV
alexanders@mctc.edu