Missouri Course Redesign Initiative
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Course Title: Computers and Information Systems
Contact: Mimi Duncan
Computers and Information Systems is the only large enrollment course (~550 students per year) in the College of Business Administration at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) that meets a general education requirement. In addition, it is a required course for all business majors. The skills students acquire are regarded as foundational: students’ success in this course results in the technological literacy necessary to be successful in future courses and in the workplace. These literacy skills align with the university’s strategic direction in its mission and its Gateway to Greatness strategic plan. The traditional course structure is a three-hour lecture-based course taught in a computer classroom with by a variety of full- and part-time faculty, with the support of four graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) who work as tutors.
The course faces persistent technological challenges because the course focus and resources must constantly adapt to upgrades in operating systems and software applications. Such frequent technology improvements require that all course instructors develop corresponding expertise within a short time period. When part-time faculty are reluctant to take the time to update skills, course drift results. Analysis of the DFW rates demonstrates that students are not as successful as expected. This trend is especially apparent in evening courses. The evening sections serve a very non-traditional student population and have the highest failure rate (ranging from 33–51%). UMSL’s history of serving the non-traditional student is a mission-driven commitment to the community that is noted throughout the university’s strategic plan. When students do not successfully complete Computers and Information Systems, they may lack the fundamental skills needed to be successful in upper-level courses. While the College of Business Administration has a large number of majors, the department of information systems seeks to increase its number of majors and graduate students.
In the redesign, one instructor will be the instructor of record for one large course section. The course will utilize commercially available instructional software and enlist a mix of undergraduate peer tutors and GTAs to assist with course communications and grading. The instructor will identify learning outcomes, design course activities and assessments, coordinate the delivery of the course content and consolidate a common set of scoring guides to be used by the GTAs. Students will be required to attend the initial class meeting of the semester to learn the course expectations and prepare for the active learning environment. The balance of the scheduled class meetings will take place in smaller technology classrooms and will require successful completion of automated tasks to check performance on and mastery of the assigned modules. The instructor and undergraduate peer tutors will be available at workstations among the students to respond to questions and guide instruction.
The move to the Replacement Model is an important next step in UMSL’s commitment to improved student learning. Collapsing all sections into one, increasing the number of active learning opportunities, embedding tutors more deeply into the course and utilizing more intimate learning opportunities in smaller venues will help ensure that students spend more time on task and have more meaningful opportunities to apply the course theories and principles.
During the pilot and full implementation phases of the redesign, the team will compare performance data on a common final exam from prior semesters with student performance after the redesign. In addition to comparing students’ performance on the common final exam, they will develop common rubrics to analyze students’ work throughout the semester. When data on a particular assignment are aggregated, the team will be able to analyze instructional activities for their effectiveness and adapt them as necessary to meet course objectives.
The redesign of Computers and Information Systems will result in a decrease in the cost per student from $113 to $95, a 16% reduction. This cost savings is a result of consolidating all sections under one instructor assisted by a team of undergraduate and graduate students. The number of sections will decrease from 11 to two annually and section size will increase from 50 to ~150-200 students. The cost savings will be allocated back to the information systems department within the College of Business Administration for student recruitment and outreach and other departmental needs.
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