Science and Mathematics Division

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Science and MathematicsDivision

• Frank Brown

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Initiative I

• Enhancement of Services Provided by the TCC
  Testing Center Make-up Exams

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The Challenge

• Many students miss one or more exams for valid
  reasons.
• TCC does not currently have a testing facility
  that provides proctoring for make-up exams.

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The Result

• Make-up exams are sometimes administered to
  students in an un-proctored or non-secure
  environment.
• Many TCC faculty do not offer make-up exams to
  students.
• Approximately 100 make-up exams per week across
  campus

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A Solution

• Add a staff person to the TCC Testing Center to
  handle make-up exams.
• Offer faculty the opportunity to have students
  take make-up exams in a proctored environment.
• Students may be assessed using all exams in a
  course Exams are learning experiences!

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Resources Needed

• Room for administering tests
• Personnel costs 25,000
• Impact on other areas of the college
• Benefits all academic areas
• Adds to workload of Student Services Testing
  Center

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Initiative II

• Center for Collaborative Learning
• Initial Pilot Program
• Supplemental Instruction

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The Challenge

• Several of our courses are high-risk courses
  50 or lower success rate
• Students have difficulty applying study skills to
  specific courses

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The InitiativeSupplemental Instruction

• Student peers serve as role models and group
  tutors
• Students learn study skills and apply them to
  course material
• Research-based program certified by the U.S.
  Department of Education

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The Results

• Enhanced student success in high-risk courses
  (data available from pilot at TCC)
• Students apply techniques in other classes
• Outstanding experience for student leaders

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Resources Needed

• Release time for two faculty supervisors
• Funds to pay student tutors
• Travel for training supervisors
• Estimated cost 25,000
• Impacts
• Improved student success
• Applications in HSS, MS, and TPP divisions

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Initiative III

• Enhanced Placement and Targeted Remediation for
  Students in Math Classes

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The Challenge

• Many students do not succeed in math classes
  during their first attempt especially in MAT
  1033 and MAC 1105
• Some are incorrectly placed in a given math
  course
• Many have gaps in their prerequisite knowledge

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A Placement Program

• Investigate placement procedures using cohort
  studies from TCC mainframe data
• Make sure all advisors are familiar with which
  programs require the math different courses
• Have math faculty available in advising settings
  for new student registration

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A Remediation Program

• Have instructors identify at-risk students with
  a short diagnostic quiz during the first day of
  class
• Have at-risk students go to the Math Center and
  take computerized diagnostic test that will
  produce a student-tailored remediation program

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Remediation Resources

• Academic.com modules
• Digital video tutorials by textbook companies
• Math Center worksheets
• Math Center mini-workshops

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Anticipated Outcome

• Improved placement of students in math classes
• Students are immediately made aware of
  significant weaknesses in their math background
  that could impede their success
• Students are given a personalized plan for
  remediation that enhances their chances for
  success in their math classes

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Resources Needed

• Reassigned time for faculty member for two
  semesters
• Staff Development for Math Center Personnel
• Statistical studies of student placement and
  student success for a cohort of students
• Estimated Cost 20,000

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Impact on Other Areas of the College

• Math Center
• Increased responsibilities of staff
• IT
• Do statistical studies with student cohort
• Develop software for personalized remediation
  plan

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Initiative IV

• Enhancement to the Chemistry Laboratory Program

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Enhancement to Organic Chemistry Laboratory
Program

• Purchase of a Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR)
  Spectrometer

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Benefits to Organic Chemistry Students

• Allows our students to spectroscopically identify
  and analyze chemical products they have
  synthesized in the laboratory.
• Exposes our students to modern instrumentation
  used in organic chemistry laboratories.
• Standard equipment that is used in
  sophomore-level organic laboratory experiments.

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Benefits to our Campus and Community

• Available for use to instructors and students in
  the Interdisciplinary Science Laboratory and
  Allied Health Chemistry lab for analysis of
  samples.
• Available for use in a collaboration with the
  local high school programs
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• International Baccalaureate (IB)

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Purchase Plan

• Proposal to be submitted to National Science
  Foundations Undergraduate Laboratory
  Instrumentation Program
• Requires a fifty percent match which is 13,000
• If not funded by NSF, will require 26,000

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Initiative V

• Hands-on Physical Science Classroom

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The Challenge

• Need more science classrooms that are equipped
  with tables and chairs that allow hands-on
  activities during classes
• The two current hands-on classrooms are very
  crowded in terms of use and storage

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The InitiativeA Hands-on Physical Science
Classroom

• Remodel SM 210 and SM 211
• Remove wall between these classrooms
• Build a storage and prep room
• Outfit the room with tables, chairs, and
  multimedia bunker system with SMARTboard

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The Results

• Students will have more hands-on activities
  during classes in the physical sciences
• Science demos and equipment for students will be
  conveniently located
• Availability of multimedia resources in the
  classroom

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Resources Needed

• Funding for remodeling, furniture, and multimedia
  equipment
• Estimated cost 35,000
• Impacts
• TCC Construction Department
• IT and Multimedia

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Initiative VI

• Upgrade and Enhance Instructional Equipment and
  Software

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The Challenge

• With increasing enrollments, equipment gets
  additional use and additional equipment is needed
• Additional adjunct faculty are hired and need
  convenient access to computers

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The InitiativeReplacement and Enhancement of
Equipment and Software

• Storage cabinetry for geology
• Plant growing station for biology/plant science
• Geometers sketchpad for new Geometry Course
• Portable lab bench for students in wheelchairs

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The InitiativeReplacement and Enhancement of
Equipment and Software

• LCD projector and laptop computer for use in the
  SM seminar room
• New computers for 3 replacement faculty members
• New computers in 6 adjunct offices
• Network resources to support additional computers
  in SM building

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The Results

• Faculty and students have enhanced educational
  materials and equipment which enhances the
  educational experience of students

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Resources Needed

• Funding for these items 35,000
• Impact
• Software and hardware upgrades impact IT

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Science and MathematicsDivision
Serving the TCC Community