Learning Outcome 1 General Reflection

When I first met with my dean Tim Grogan to discuss what my tenure project should be about, I was prepared with many different ideas.  I was thinking about doing my project based on various areas I was involved in, such as Supplemental Learning, LinC courses, or Development courses.  Tim Grogan’s advice was to choose something that would allow me to say, “Wow, I really accomplished something I am proud of, and it really makes an impact on my profession.”  He also advised me that it should be something I was passionate about.  I would be working on this project for several years, and it would not have to end with the tenure portfolio.  After that meeting, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  I wanted to create a resource for the developmental mathematics course, MAT0024C Beginning Algebra.  The average college-wide passing rate for this course is around 40%.  Not only do the students have to pass the course itself with a C or higher, but they also must pass a state competency exam with an 80% or higher score.  I have been teaching the course since 2001, and I was very familiar with the content of the course and the difficulties students and instructors face.  I am passionate about helping students become successful in this course because it is, for many students, the beginning of their mathematics journey.  I wanted that journey to be filled with success, not failure. 

For my Learning Outcome 1, I have created active learning notes for MAT0024C Beginning Algebra that hopefully will replace the use of a traditional, preparatory student textbook.  In creating the active learning notes, I have encompassed the learning objectives of learning-centered teaching strategies, Valencia’s student core competencies (TVCA), Lifemap, assessment, and inclusion and diversity.  Creating this document has not been easy.  It has involved researching educational literature, disecting personal experiences, embarking on discussions with many instructors and students, and, above all, maintaining my desire to create the best possible resource to help students learn.  In addition to creating the actual active learning notes for the entire course, I have created the solutions to many of the sample problems, as well as many different types of assessments.  For my tenure project, I have taken a portion of the active learning notes, Chapter 6 on Factoring, implemented them in several classes, and tested the impact the notes have had on the students’ learning.  The implementation and results are presented in my second Learning Outcome.

My dream would be for every student at Valencia who is taking MAT0024C Beginning Algebra to use my active learning notes to be successful and to thus master Beginning Algebra.  Having students become successful in mathematics is my passion.