that by the eighth week of the semester students were not performing/writing at the expected, desired level. It seems that, based on anecdotal information gathered in discussions with students after the midterm assessment, a number of factors contributed to their lack of achievement. Some of the factors reported by students were external, such as employment, financial difficulties, and child rearing. It is safe to conclude that these factors prohibited students from attending class regularly, which directly impacted their academic performance. In spite of this and based on the study findings, it is clear that AFE English instructors and Supplemental Instructors (SIs) need to come up with more effective pedagogical strategies in an effort to enhance their students performance preferably exceed 70% MPO achievability before the midterm exam. Assessment Results for Final Exam: By the Final Exam MPOs 1.1 thru 1.9 were achieved by the AFE students. However, this achievement might be accepted with hesitance the level of success was certainly by the narrowest of margin, especially when you factor in that AFE 083 is a developmental course. 71% of students were able to develop an appropriate introductory paragraph before the final exam, which is a small but considerable improvement from the midterm assessment (60%). 75% of students were able to develop an appropriate body paragraph utilizing MLA in-text citation before the final exam, which is a small but considerable improvement from the midterm assessment (63%). 71% of the students were able to develop an appropriate concluding paragraph before the final exam which is a small but considerable improvement from the midterm assessment (61%). Diagram 2 Summary As indicated in Diagrams 1 and 2, are based on the information gathered from the assessment, AFE 083 instructors in the CAF department need to spend more time developing their students’ writing skills before the midterm exam if 70% or more of the students are to be able to achieve the course MPOs by the eighth week of the semester. This will definitely improve the writing skills of the students within
APPENDIX A: Multiple-Choice Questions Included in Each MTH 100 Test (to test acquisition of MPOs): (MPO #) Topic Question(s) used to determine MPO acquisition (test in which question was asked) Average Student Score on MPO # of students who answered the question(s) relating to MPO (1.1) Solve linear equations Solve for n: (Test 1) Find the solution of 11x – 2 = 3x + 5. (Test 1) Solve for x: (Midterm) 79.21 % 594 (1.2) Solve literal equations for m: (Test 1) 70.33 % 300 (1.3) Solve rational equations for x: (Test 2) 85.51 % 207 (1.4) Solve radical equations Solve for x: (Final) 79.61 % 206 (1.5) Solve quadratic equations the quadratic equation: (Final) 63.11 % 206 (1.6) Solve linear inequalities Solve the inequality:. Write the solution in set-builder notation. (Test 1) 81.34 % 300 (1.7) Solve systems of equations Solve the system: (Midterm) 68.37 % 294 (1.8) Factor polynomials Factor completely: (Midterm) 84.01 % 294 (1.9) Simplify exponential expressions Simplify: (Midterm) Simplify: (Test 2) Simplify: (Test 2) 84.43 % 501 (MPO #) Topic Question(s) used to determine MPO acquisition (test in which question was asked) Average Student Score on MPO # of students who answered the question(s) relating to MPO (1.10) Perform basic operations on polynomials Multiply: (Midterm) 91.16 % 294
(1.11) Perform basic operations on rational expressions Simplify: (Test 2) 92.57 % 207 (1.12) Perform basic operations on radical expressions Simplify: (Test 2) Simplify: (Test 2) Simplify: (Final) 61.86 % 413 (1.13) Perform basic operations on complex numbers Simplify: (Final) 73.30 % 206 (1.14) Find the equation of a line based on given geometric properties Find the equation of the line that contains the point (0, 4) and has slope 8. (Test 1) 85.33 % 300 (1.15) a line in the Rectangular Coordinate System Graph: (Midterm) 75.85 % 294 (1.16) Graph a parabola in the Rectangular Coordinate System Find the vertex and axis of symmetry, and then graph the parabola given by: (Final) 77.19 % 206 (1.17) Graph a circle in the Rectangular Coordinate System Find the center and radius, then the graph of the circle given by the equation: 81.63 % 206 (MPO #) Topic Question(s) used to determine MPO acquisition (test in which question was asked) Average Student Score on MPO # of students who answered the question(s) relating to MPO
(3.1) Write and explain solutions to application problems related to the course material using appropriate mathematical terminology and notation. Are the and parallel, perpendicular, or neither? Explain your answer. (Final) 58.69 % 506 (4.1) Use a calculator to perform basic arithmetic operations, evaluate powers and find the square root of a number. Find the distance (to the nearest hundredth between the points (–4, 2) and (4, –5). (Test 1) 68.33 % 300
MPO Specific Skill / Math Topic Students who ‘knew how to do this’ Students who ‘had some idea how to do this but need more practice’ Students who ‘did not know how to do this’ MPO 1.2 solve linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic equations Solve quadratic equations. T1: 29 = 81% FE: 15 = 75% T1: 5 = 14% FE: 0 = 0% T1: 1 = 3% FE: 5 = 25% exponential equations. T4: 15 = 54% FE: 20 = 100% T4: 11 = 39% FE: 0 = 0% T4: 2 = 7% FE: 0 = 0% Solve logarithmic equations. T4: 10 = 36% FE: 14 = 70% T4: 12 = 43% FE: 3 = 15% T4: 6 = 21% FE: 3 = 15% MPO 1.3 determine limits, continuity, and differentiability of functions at specified values Determine limits. T2: 25 = 81% T2: 6 = 19% T2: 0 = 0% Determine continuity and/or differentiability of a function at a specified value. T2: 18 = 58% FE: 7 = 35% T2: 8 = 26% FE: 5 = 25% T2: 5 = 16% FE: 8 = 40% MPO Specific Skill / Math Topic Students who ‘knew how to do this’ Students who ‘had some idea how to do this but need more practice’ Students who ‘did not know how to do this’
STUDENTS…I NEED YOUR INPUT AGAIN!! – Test 2 Please answer the following questions honestly so that I can improve my performance as a math professor. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> How do you think you will do on this test (Test #2) compared to Test #1? Better: 11 (= 42%) About the same: 7 (= 27%) Worse: 8 (= 31%) 2. If you think you will do better, why? (Circle all that are applicable. Leave it blank if necessary.) Studying more: 9 (= 82%) Have the book now: 0 (= 0%) more homework: 5 (= 45%) Not missing as many classes: 1 (9%) Not as nervous – kind of know what to expect: 4 (36%) Received helpful tutoring (If so, where ____): 1 “Tech Support” – STEM? (= 9%) Other: ______________________________________: 0 (= 0%) 3. If you think you will do worse on this test, why? (Circle all that are applicable. Leave it blank if necessary.) Harder math topics on Test 2: 5 (= 63%) Missing too many classes: 0 (= 0%) Not doing enough homework: 2 (= 25%) Not studying enough – Lazy: 2 (= 25%) Not studying enough – Overcommitted schedule: 3 (= 38%) Bad math background catching up with me: 1 (= 13%) Other: ____: 1 “Teacher’s too fast” (= 13%) ADDITIONAL HELPFUL COMMENTS CAN BE WRITTEN BELOW 3 – Go slower, explain more./You are going too fast. Write step by step. Please slow down. / Please slow down. 2 – Can we get a mini study guide with some problems like 10 with an answer sheet. I think it will help a lot of us since the book sucks./We need a better book. 1 – Some concepts are very hard to grasp.
Skill / Math Topic I know how to do this. I have some idea how to do this but need more practice. I do not know how to do this. Solve exponential equations. Ex: Solve . 18 = 78% 4 = 17% 1 = 4% Solve logarithmic equations. Ex: . 16 = 70% 5 = 22% 2 = 9% Calculate derivatives of exponential functions. Ex: Determine if . 9 = 39% 12 = 52% 2 = 9% Calculate derivatives of logarithmic functions. Ex: Determine if . 6 = 27% 12 = 55% 4 = 18% Calculate derivatives using logarithmic differentiation. Ex: Determine if 6 = 26% 13= 57% 4 = 17% Calculate derivatives using the product rule. Ex: Determine if . 14 = 61% 9 = 39% 0 = 0% Calculate derivatives using the quotient rule. Ex: Determine if . 14 = 61% 8 = 35% 1 = 4% Skill / Math Topic I know how to do this. I have some idea how to do this but need more practice. I do not know how to do this. Calculate derivatives using the chain rule. Ex: Determine if . 14 = 61% 8 = 35% 1 = 4% ADDITIONAL HELPFUL COMMENTS CAN BE WRITTEN BELOW Too fast!!!