Using Placement Tests to Improve SLOs and Retention
Rachelle Hall and Beth Berry
Presenters
Rachelle Hall
• Faculty – Business and
Information Technology
• Director – Assessment and
Program Review
• CIS105 Coordinator
• SAM user/administrator for 11
years
• Technology Power User
Beth Berry
• Faculty – Business and
Information Technology
– Accounting and Computer
Application courses
• Supervisor – BPC programs and
courses
• SAM administration / user for
10 years
Glendale Community College
– Glendale Community College, Glendale AZ
– Enrollment – 19,993
– FTSE – 11,581
– LMS is Canvas
– Use SAM for all Office application courses
Socrative
www.socrative.com
1. Click Student Login
2. Join Room #77098
GCC Courses
• CIS105 – Survey of Computer Information Systems
– Applications and Concepts
– Enrollment – approximately 1,200 per semester
• BPC110 – Business Personal Computers
– Applications only
– Enrollment – approximately 200 per semester
• All office application courses
– Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint
– Enrollment – approximately 500 per semester
Grade Distribution
Our Plan
• Placement Survey in SAM
– Minimum level of proficiency to succeed in CIS105 and BPC110
– Set the competencies of Intro to Computers (BPC101)
• If student scored C or below, were recommended to change courses for success
• Monitoring students for success patterns
• Study will go through Spring of 2014
• Recommendations to President in Summer of 2014
Goal is to have mandatory placement test prior to enrollment
Student Benefits
• Students succeed!
• Eliminates the frustration that leads to failure in or withdrawal
from the more advanced course
• Increased student learning
– Instruction is targeted to students at this skill level
– More opportunities to collaborate with peers
• Students obtain solid computing skills necessary for success in
transfer courses
• Time and Financial benefits
– Students are not spending time or money on a class they will not pass
Instructor Benefits
• Quick and easy set up for multiple sections
• Students are properly placed for success
• Class is more homogenous
– Class flow is not interrupted
– Content is covered on schedule
• Skill level is more consistent throughout the class
– More collaborative opportunities between students
– More opportunities for the teaching of advanced skills and “fun” stuff. This allows
more time for enhanced and engaged learning
Questions?
rachelle.hall@gccaz.edu
623-845-3231
beth.berry@gccaz.edu
623-845-3391

Using Placement Tests to Improve SLOs and Retention - Course Technology Computing Conference

  • 1.
    Using Placement Teststo Improve SLOs and Retention Rachelle Hall and Beth Berry
  • 2.
    Presenters Rachelle Hall • Faculty– Business and Information Technology • Director – Assessment and Program Review • CIS105 Coordinator • SAM user/administrator for 11 years • Technology Power User Beth Berry • Faculty – Business and Information Technology – Accounting and Computer Application courses • Supervisor – BPC programs and courses • SAM administration / user for 10 years
  • 3.
    Glendale Community College –Glendale Community College, Glendale AZ – Enrollment – 19,993 – FTSE – 11,581 – LMS is Canvas – Use SAM for all Office application courses
  • 4.
  • 5.
    GCC Courses • CIS105– Survey of Computer Information Systems – Applications and Concepts – Enrollment – approximately 1,200 per semester • BPC110 – Business Personal Computers – Applications only – Enrollment – approximately 200 per semester • All office application courses – Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint – Enrollment – approximately 500 per semester
  • 6.
  • 7.
    Our Plan • PlacementSurvey in SAM – Minimum level of proficiency to succeed in CIS105 and BPC110 – Set the competencies of Intro to Computers (BPC101) • If student scored C or below, were recommended to change courses for success • Monitoring students for success patterns • Study will go through Spring of 2014 • Recommendations to President in Summer of 2014 Goal is to have mandatory placement test prior to enrollment
  • 8.
    Student Benefits • Studentssucceed! • Eliminates the frustration that leads to failure in or withdrawal from the more advanced course • Increased student learning – Instruction is targeted to students at this skill level – More opportunities to collaborate with peers • Students obtain solid computing skills necessary for success in transfer courses • Time and Financial benefits – Students are not spending time or money on a class they will not pass
  • 9.
    Instructor Benefits • Quickand easy set up for multiple sections • Students are properly placed for success • Class is more homogenous – Class flow is not interrupted – Content is covered on schedule • Skill level is more consistent throughout the class – More collaborative opportunities between students – More opportunities for the teaching of advanced skills and “fun” stuff. This allows more time for enhanced and engaged learning
  • 10.