I SSU E
67
The Independent Student Voice of Boise State Since 1933
Volume 22
First Issue
F R E E
AUGUST 27, 2009
ARBITERONLINE.COM
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HYBRID LEARNING: Revolutionizing math teaching and learning styles
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PHOTO BY GLENN LANDBERG/THE ARBITER
BY SONIA TREVIZO Editor
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Math is a much-dreaded concept for many students. About seven years ago Boise State University began making changes on how introductory algebra classes would be taught. The changes began with Math 025 and then progressed to 108. These classes would no longer be taught in a traditional classroom setting with an instructor that led a class three to four times a week. Instead, the class would be taken online and students would meet once a week with a professor. This change brought up many concerns among some faculty and students. “My first instincts upon hearing the math department’s intention to phase out instructor-led learning in M025 and M108 were sadness, incredulity, and horror,” former Boise State instructor Jeannette Bowman said. Other concerns were the extra fees students would have to pay to take the course. The system was being set up to handle up to 104 sections per year and students would be required to pay an extra student computer fee.
My first instincts upon hearing… were sadness, incredulity, and horror. The fee is used to cover the expenses of the technology used and to pay the math assistants who helped students with their homework in the Math Learning Center lab. At the start of this mathematical revolution, Bowman took action in attempt to get her concerns heard. “Math 025 and Math 108 are the springboards for additional mathematics learning at BSU. The figures in the “Vision” assert 87 percent of the pre-calculus students began with one of these two courses. Even 79 percent of the calculus students began their studies at the remedial level. Nonetheless, if the ensuing changes were expected to improve the prospects of students’ further mathematics learning, I might be willing to set aside some of my complaints and see the value of compromising,” Bowman said. Implementing technology in
the classroom is still very new but is quickly revolutionizing the way classes are taught and how students learn. When this was first implemented at BSU the retention and completion rate was expected to be about 10-20 percent lower than those for traditional instructor-led classes according to Bowman. At the time it could have been quite possible that the system was flawed and not fully developed but changes and improvements have been made since then. “The changes in technology have changed so much in the last ten years that it isn’t even accurate portrayal of what we could do today versus what we could do then,” said current director of developmental mathematics Gary Hagerty. Math Department chair, Douglas Bullock feels that there shouldn’t be any reason for hybrid learning not to work. The
feedback for both students and professors is instant, making it easy for students to see where their mistakes are and professors can better judge who needs more help with what. “Last fall, the success rate at Boise State was high enough to make other schools ask us how we did it,” Hagerty said. Since 2002 Math 025 classes have been restructured to meet three times a week and Math 108 four times a week. Both are taught by a professor and have all of the extra online tools to help students. “Technology was assisting us in getting greater student success but with that change and the directions that we’re headed this year we’re hoping for more student interactions, more studentinstructor interactions, and we are working on building that as a component and truly getting the internet and instructor interaction to become one,” Hagerty said. As more discoveries are made and better tools are developed, the instruction mode for these classes have the opportunity to improve. Hagerty expressed that technology is being used to look for new ways to help students.
PODCAST
Go to arbiteronline.com to listen to a podcast featuring the director of developmental Mathematics, Gary Hagerty.
STUDENT VOICES
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Do you think taking a hybrid math class f snot? f is a good idea? Why or why e R r f x f f Pq f D T t j D t f f ff g f v q f f h W f q T v s xv f Q i z w z e u W J N s e b f UQ lf f f y Uf N c x
Andrea Charles, 19 Freshman, Radiology
“I think it’s really cool, because some students don’t have time for the 50 minute classes.”
Tracy Hamrem, 20 Junior, English
“I think it’s cool because it give students more time to look over classes.”
Daniela Scovel, 21
Chad Garno, 23
Sophomore, Exercise Science
Freshman, Athletic Training
“I think math classes should be taught in person. Not all people can learn online.”
“I think it’s better to have a one on one class so you can ask questions.”
The Arbiter ! arbiteronline.com