July 11, 2006
QEP Committee Meeting Minutes
Members Present: Dr. Odell Wilson, Dr. Rick Mason, Robin Haggerty, David Clutts, Dr. Wheeler Conover
Members Absent: Millard Robbins, Chuck Sturgill, Joel Eldridge, Peggy Conklin
Robin Haggerty opened the meeting by reviewing the agenda and adding a discussion of the Definition of Student Learning to the agenda.
Dr. Wheeler Conover suggested that since the committee’s student representative had graduated that a new one be appointed. He suggested Emily Balenovich, but discussion was tabled until the fall.
The committee then reviewed the changes made to the QEP based on Dr. Bibby’s recommendations. All agreed that focusing on the learning goals and making our former goals strategies worked better.
Measuring Learning Goals
Goal 1: Dr. Rick Mason suggested that we look at the average of each classes success rates for the past three semesters to create baseline data for success rates. Dr. Conover asked whether the data for the last 5 years should be used to complete a T-test or Q-test. Dr. Odell Wilson countered that Institutional Research would have to go back to the raw data for the past five years and that using the average of the past 5 years for each class would be sufficient. All members agreed with Dr. Wilson and the further suggestion that our target success rate for 2011 should be 10% higher than the baseline.
Other measures of improved student performance were discussed. All agreed that we should measure how many students test out of developmental math and how many students successfully complete the sequence of courses. Furthermore, all agreed that we should measure how many of those who either test out or complete the sequence then go on to complete College Algebra or Applied Math with a C or higher.
Dr. Wilson brought up the issue of baselines and targets for the COMPASS tests to be used in pilot projects. He suggested that 75% who are in the experimental group will test into the next level of coursework. Dr. Mason and Haggerty will review old COMPASS data and send out the committee a baseline for 055 and suggestions for comparing COMPASS scores between the experimental groups to pilots.
Goal 2: All agreed that CCSSE results and campus measures (student visits to tutors) would be good ways to measure student engagement. Dr. Mason and Haggerty will decide on the questions to be used from CCSSE and Dr. Mason reports that CCSSE baseline data will be available by the last week of July. Dr. Conover further suggested using student evaluations, exit surveys, and library use.
Goal 3: The committee discussed the need for a self-efficacy scale. Once that is chosen, how we will determine the baseline and targets will be determined. David Clutts suggested that the committee chose between a scale provided by MindGarden, a scale from Australia, or make our own. Haggerty agreed to order the sample scale and manual from Mindgarden. She will send the PDF to other committee members to determine if this is the scale we want to use.
Definition of Student Learning
The revised version and Dr. Wilson’s recommendations were reviewed. The last line of the definition was changed to read ”Our definition of student learning is to enhance the level of students’ involvement in their developmental math courses, resulting in improved student performance in these courses and a positive change in their attitudes toward learning math. This enhancement of student involvement will also result in improved performance in their subsequent math curriculum.”
Discussion about the Definition of Student Learning prompted Haggerty to ask the committee if Goal 4 should be made a strategy under Goal 1 because Goal 4 is not mentioned in the definition. The committee agreed.
Review of Recent Discussion Points
Haggerty reminded the committee that COMPASS will be used as pre & post tests for pilot projects, but that ASSET will be used for the Challenge Exam.
After discussion of the goals of the Master Teacher Study, it was agreed that the goals duplicated those of the pilot projects (namely, to identify what works in the developmental math classroom) and that it should be dropped from the QEP.
The committee revisited the idea that COMPASS/MATH review sessions could be offered as a pilot project on various campuses. Haggerty agreed to write the pilot into the QEP.
Flyers & Title
The committee chose the format for the flyer (3B) and agreed to give the QEP the following title:
A Paradigm of Success: Unlocking the Code to Developmental Math