3. Context
• Kean University : regional university in New Jersey with
approximately 11,000 undergraduates
• College Algebra course with extensive review of intermediate
algebra topics
• 50% of all incoming freshmen place in developmental math first
semester
4. Implementation
• Textbook: Beecher, Penna, et al., Algebra and Trigonometry, 5/e
• 40 sections in Fall 2015
• 32 out of 40 sections taught by adjunct faculty
• MyMathLab online homework required : 6% of student’s grade
• Course revamped with uniform assessments across all sections
• Online homework was used as part of a multi-pronged effort to
increase success rates in course
5. Course Grade Determination
Assessment Points
3 Exams (75 pts. each) 225
7 best quizzes out of 9 (10 pts. each) +
MyMathLab Homework
100
Final Exam 150
Total Points Possible 475
6. Homework implementation
• Philosophy: homework as a learning experience and developing
discipline
• Total of 21 assignments during the semester
• Unlimited time/ attempts with full online aids
• Only 10 highest grades were used toward the final course grade
9. HW average vs. Grade in course
• HW were untimed with multiple
attempts and had online help aids.
• Almost all students put in the effort for
the online homework.
• Was more an indication of persistence
rather than a predictor of final grade
10. MML Quizzes
• Quizzes were timed and had no
online help aids.
• Online quiz scores show more
spread than the homework
scores.
• Somewhat better predictor of
grade in course than the online
homework.
14. Comments
• Students primarily from developmental
math
• MML used in the Developmental math as
well
• Many more students who have lower
online homework averages
15. Intervention
• Using the MML gradebook for all assessments
• Emailing students via MML using criteria
• Using an appointment scheduler link within the email
16. Sample email – early alert
Hi,
You are receiving this email because you show a quiz score and/or
online homework score with less than 75%. This puts you at risk for
failing the course. Please make an appointment with me at the
following link to review your performance, or see me after class.
http://drnarasimhan.youcanbook.me
--Dr. Narasimhan
18. Motivation : students
• Walking students through the many resources available on MML
• Online HW assignments specifically for review before each exam
• Also disseminate PDF files of review homework
• Make use of email blasts throughout the semester
19. Instructor Engagement
• Email blasts to instructors of course throughout the semester
encouraged a team effort
• Uniform assessments across all sections ensured more consistency
• Updating instructors on how to better use MML tools for observing
trends in grades
• In-class quizzes and exams are a larger portion of the grade
20. Conclusion
• High levels of student engagement in online homework across all
grade bands
• High performance in online homework is a necessary but not
sufficient condition for passing grade in course
• Online quizzes seem to be a somewhat better predictor course
grades add more online quizzes in the course in the future
• Developmental math college algebra course seems to be a
difficult transition