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University of Idaho

Course Implementation

Course Design

In fall 2001, the University of Idaho’s Department of Mathematics redesigned its Intermediate Algebra and College Algebra courses using the National Center for Academic Transformation’s emporium model. Students attend class one day a week for 50 minutes and spend 2.5 hours a week in a computer lab staffed by faculty, graduate students, and trained undergraduate students.

Over the past 10 years, a variety of pedagogical improvements have been made: In 2004, MyMathLab was introduced in the College Algebra course. In 2007, MyMathLab became required for all homework, and MyMathLab quizzes were introduced. In 2008, TestGen midterm exams were replaced by MyMathLab tests. In 2009, to offset an enormous budget cut, class sizes were increased to 250 students each. The Trigsted College Algebra eText was adopted, and course notebooks were created to enhance course structure.
 

Assessments

• 6 percent       Notebook quiz: A weekly, in-class quiz on notes.
• 5.5 percent    Attendance at Polya math center
• 10.9 percent (Intermediate) or 13.6 percent (College)  MyMathLab homework: Students complete homework from any location, have unlimited attempts, and are encouraged to use study aids.
• 10.9 percent (Intermediate) or 13.6 percent (College)  MyMathLab quizzes: Students have 10 attempts at each quiz. They may use any resource except tutors and teachers until the quiz is graded.
• 48.5 percent (Intermediate) or 40.9 percent (College)   Exams: Exams are proctored and taken in the math center with no study aids. Eighty percent of the grade is from a MyMathLab test, 20 percent is from an in-class test. Up to three versions of the MyMathLab test may be taken.
• 18.2 percent (Intermediate) or 20.4 percent (College)   Final exam: The common final exam is taken in class, using paper and pencil.
   

Use of Trigsted MyMathLab

MyMathLab is used for creating and completing homework assignments, quizzes, and proctored tests. Students use the eBook and its associated videos and animations. Homework, quiz, and test questions are drawn from the MyMathLab bank and are created via its custom exercise builder. The Coordinator Course function is used for delivering material across multiple sections and for exporting data for use in an on-campus database that tracks student performance.

Use of Trigsted MyMathLab contributes 80 percent to a student’s final course grade.

Results and Data

Since the change from traditional courses to lab-based courses, pass rates and final exam scores for both courses have increased significantly.

Figure 1 illustrates how the changes have positively impacted College Algebra median final exam scores. Note that
throughout all of the pedagogical changes, the common final exam remained constant.

• In 2004, MyMathLab was introduced into both courses. Students had the option of completing a portion of their homework assignments using MyMathLab. TestGen was used for administering multiple-choice midterm exams and the average class size was 40 students. The median final exam score from 2004 through 2006 was 66 percent.
• In 2007, MyMathLab was required for all homework, and MyMathLab quizzes were introduced. Students were required to score at least 75 percent on homework before taking its corresponding quiz. TestGen was used for administering multiple-choice midterm exams, and the average class size was 40 students. The median final exam score in 2007 rose to 70 percent.
• In 2008, MyMathLab replaced TestGen as administrator of midterm exams, and the average class size increased slightly to 45 students. The median final exam score in 2008 rose more, to 74.7 percent.
• In 2009, to offset a drastic cut to the Mathematics Department’s annual budget, the Trigsted College Algebra eText was adopted, and class sizes were increased to 250 students. Course notebooks were created to add more structure to the course; the 75 percent minimum homework score prerequisite was increased to 80 percent; and a 50 percent minimum practice test score prerequisite was required before a student was permitted to take each midterm exam. These changes continued the positive trend, and in 2009 the median final exam score rose yet again, to 78 percent.

The Student Experience

Theresa Allen, mathematics instructor, reports that despite the unprecedented 455 percent increase in class size, use of Trigsted MyMathLab has positively impacted her students—beyond increased pass rates and final exam scores. “My students are confident in their mathematics abilities,” she says. “By allowing them to work ahead when they’re ready, this robust, interactive program encourages them to be both self-aware and accountable. Students are comfortable using it; I hear a lot of positive feedback about it!”