Program in Course Redesign

Riverside Community College

Course Title: Elementary Algebra
Redesign Coordinator: Sheila Pisa

Riverside Community College (RCC) redesigned Elementary Algebra, a four-credit course, enrolling 3,600 students annually in 72 sections. Offered in a didactic lecture format, the traditional course had a success rate of about 50%. The redesign plan involved converting four hours of weekly lectures into student participation in a Math Collaboratory and in weekly Spotlight Sessions as well as developing an extensive math tutorial and counseling support system. The Collaboratory, an interactive lab where students worked with faculty, tutors, and other students, was designed to use a Web-based instructional program (ALEKS) to generate individualized assessments, study plans, and active learning sets. Spotlights were expected to target known student trouble spots; students would attend as many or as few as needed for clarification of material. The goal of the redesign was two-fold: 1) to encourage students to take an active role in their own learning according to their preferred learning styles, building on timely assessment and faculty guidance and 2) to move from a seat-time model to one based on subject matter mastery. Redesign was expected to produce a 45% cost-per-student reduction, from $206 to $113, for an annual savings of $333,304. Additional savings were anticipated from freeing classrooms and increasing student retention rates. The results of the completed redesign can be found by following the links listed below under Final Report.

Initial Planning (as of 7/1/00)

Interim Progress Report (as of 12/31/01)

Final Report (as of 12/31/02)

 

 

Program in Course Redesign Quick Links:

Program In Course Redesign Main Page...

Lessons Learned:
Round 1...
Round II...
Round III...

Savings:
Round I...
Round II...
Round III...

Project Descriptions:
Sorted by Discipline...
Sorted by Model...
Sorted by Success...
Sorted by Grant Rounds...