Instructor Perspective: Using WebAssign in

Mathematics Modeling Math 1101

Inessa Levi11/05/2012

Friendly, flexible and responsive course management system

Specifically geared towards mathematics and sciences

Tutorial software Connected to our textbook COMMUNICATION catalyst and tool Great pedagogical tool Great and fast support from EWA

What is Enhanced WebAssign (EWA)?

85% of students in class participated in an optional survey on WebAssign and Excel (93 responses)

Of those participating in the survey: ◦90% said that they learned more or about the same

vs math classes that do not use tutorial software (63% said “more”)

◦74% said that they studied more or about the same (51% said “more”)

◦ 89% used Excel to do their work; and 90% of all respondents believed Excel to be useful ( not necessarily the same students)

◦ 98% who used Excel found it useful Previous Seminar on Students’ Perspectives

Students’ Feedback: Spring 2012

Help students to be pro-active learnersthrough use of graded in-class assignments for new material

Be more responsive instructor: check on the status of HW just before the beginning of the class to see what needs to be addressed

Spend more time communicating with students: students send me Q about particular problem at any

time while they are working on it: remind the students that an assignment is due in

the future and they have not submitted it yet (or their score is < xx%)

congratulate students on work done well or early

As an instructor I can be more of a coach, less of a judge

Instantaneous feedback from EWA and fast response from the instructor

projected final grade update throughout the semester

ability to practice problems in assignments (83% of students liked that about EWA)

Incentives and kudos for submitting HW early (in MML have to do it by student, by assignment)

Flexibility with time extensions for HW (with or without penalty)

Give students incentives and encouragement to work consistently throughout the semester

Overall Performance

Fall 2011 Spring 2012 Dept 1101 20100.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%

30.0%

35.0%

40.0%

45.0%

50.0%

ABCDFOther

No credit for incorrect responses multi-stage, free response problems

Fall 2011Different class formats38 graded assignments, including 5 Quizzes and 4 ExamsSome in-class work in one section

Spring 2012All face-to-face classes are in a lab52 graded assignments, including 6 Quizzes 17 in-class assign 4 Exams

Have to be in class for these

“…thank you for the most enjoyable math class I've ever been in. All my life I have had a hard time with math but you made learning math fun. …I will say I learned a lot this semester. I had to take math 0195 twice just to enter into Math Modeling, this class really showed me I can do anything if I put my mind to it. “

“...  I just got hired as a 3rd grade teacher … This school does blocks so I had the option to choose being a teacher in the subject math or reading.  I can happily say, I chose to teach math.  You were such an inspiration to me and because of you I no longer say I hate math.  I now say, I like math-I just have to work at it.  I am thrilled and can't wait to start decorating my classroom!” 

Empower students to succeed This goes far beyond a general education course