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Work in Progress: A Structural Change in Calculus Sequences

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Conference

2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Baltimore , Maryland

Publication Date

June 25, 2023

Start Date

June 25, 2023

End Date

June 28, 2023

Conference Session

Mathematics Division (MATH) Technical Session 3

Tagged Division

Mathematics Division (MATH)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

12

DOI

10.18260/1-2--44151

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/44151

Download Count

121

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Paper Authors

biography

Mark Mixer Wentworth Institute of Technology

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Mark Mixer is an associate professor in the School of Computing and Data Science at Wentworth Institute of Technology. After completing a B.A. from Dartmouth College, he received his M.S. and Ph.D in Mathematics from Northeastern University. His research is in the fields of group theory, graph theory, combinatorics, and discrete geometry.

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biography

Deirdre Donovan Wentworth Institute of Technology

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Dr. Deirdre Donovan is the Director of First Year Mathematics at Wentworth Institute of Technology. She is tasked with creating a training program for instructors, helping implement a new Calculus sequence, implementing an observation program for foundational mathematics courses, and establishing partners across campus for collaboration. Prior to joining Wentworth, Dr. Donovan was program chair for mathematics, data analytics, and cybersecurity at Lasell University. Chairing three unique data-rich disciplines under one umbrella enabled an interdisciplinary approach to meeting student needs and curricular development. She was also responsible for the development and implementation of university wide quantitative reasoning initiatives. Scholarship has focused on first year programs, student success, and diversity & equity issues in mathematics. She has studied problem solving in introductory statistics students, the impact of individualized online foundational math courses, and co-founded a research-based STEM Fellows program. Present work also includes the analysis for an ongoing discrimination study examining the lived experiences of undergraduate students.

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Abstract

At Wentworth Institute of Technology, more than two-thirds of students take calculus. Recently, 37% of those students were unsuccessful in their calculus courses. This impedes degree progress and impacts retention rates. Data suggests students from underrepresented groups fared worse than students from other demographics. As a result, WIT reevaluated the timing, scheduling, and pedagogical approach to the calculus sequence. The primary change converts the standard 14-week calculus course into two distinct 7-week courses, referred to as Split Calculus. The goal is to enhance curricular and scheduling flexibility. Additionally, by focusing on inclusive excellence, this new modality may provide additional benefits for students from traditionally underrepresented groups at Wentworth.

The new Split Calculus sequence consists of five courses. The first course, “Introduction to Calculus”, focuses on precalculus and algebraic concepts identified as a skills gap for calculus students. Subsequent calculus courses were split into two 7- week courses (Calculus 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B). Students struggling during any course can withdraw and reenroll in the same course for the subsequent 7-week session. This allows for a faster content recovery time and may empower a student who sees immediate results in their academic progress. Pathways for completion of the Split Calculus sequence include summer offerings as well as realignment of pre and co-requisites. It is anticipated that this new modality will increase student success in calculus and may impact retention rates, especially for students from underrepresented groups.

Similar programs have been implemented at the SUNY, Binghamton, and Stevens Institute of Technology. In this paper, we will give details about the implementation of this structural change, as well as present our preliminary data on the success rates of students in the first year of the program.

Mixer, M., & Donovan, D. (2023, June), Work in Progress: A Structural Change in Calculus Sequences Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--44151

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