Promising Practices

CMP – Math Forum

November 5, 2009

Post Admissions Test

• “Accuplacer” software• Math and English components• Required for all first year students at all

campuses• To identify strong and weak students

Peer Tutoring

• Because we can identify students who need help early, we can provide them with tutors

• Can also identify students who can be math tutors

• Strongly encourage peer tutoring in class

Student Success Center

• Drop in center for students• At most campuses• Staffed with Northern College faculty• Open during daytime hours

Math Tutorials

• Geared more for first year students• Some faculty create ‘Directed Learning’

hours so the students have a tutorial booked into their timetable

• Students have access to their math teacher

Small Class Sizes

• Recommended that a math class should not exceed 35 students in an introductory math course

• Promotes ‘one-on-one’ time between student and instructor

• Encourages students to work more closely together

Identify At Risk Students

• Coordinators discuss with instructors within the programs

• Have formal meetings, or converse by e-mail

• Approach students that are at risk due to attendance and/or marks

On-line Resources

• Most courses have class notes on the college network system

• Students can access the ‘Student Success Resources’ available on the college network

• Some instructors use an on-line evaluation tool

• Others show math-related videos in class

More Math Hours

• Northern College offers more hours in math than many other Ontario colleges.

• In most Technology programs:• Math 1 and Math 2 have 4 hrs/wk• Math 3 has 3hrs/wk• Some programs also have: Calc 1, Calc 2,

Statistics and Differential Equations.

• In Business programs:• Math 1 and Math 2 have 3 hrs/wk each• Some programs also have: Stats 1 and Stats 2

Pre-Tech Math

• A two-semester program that links into a Northern College Trades or Technology program

• Has two semesters of Math (3 hrs/wk for 15 weeks in S1,

and 6 hrs/wk for 8 weeks in S2)

• Designed to prepare students for first semester Math in a Technology or Trades program

Thank you