Project Overview
Goals
The goal of this project is to use mobile technology to improve teaching though formative assessments and increase student engagement and learning by increasing student participation and peer interactions.
Project Activities Linked to Project Goals
CIS127 COMPUTER TECHNOLOGIES - Learning teams consisting of three or four students are formed at the start of the semester. Throughout the course, the teams work collaboratively on projects. The mobility of the wireless tablet PCs facilitate team collaborations by allowing students to move about the classroom and gather with their team members. Polling software is used to solicit responses to questions to help the instructor assess student understanding and provide students with immediate feedback. Student engagement and learning is expected to increase with these classroom strategies.
MAT121 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICS II - Frequent formative assessments using Classroom Presenter are used to engage students in the Intermediate Algebra material and help create an interactive learning environment
Evaluation Questions
CIS127
- Have peer interactions increased in the technology enhanced course as compared to the traditional version of the course?
- Does the increase in peer interaction in the technology enhanced course increase student engagement in course content more than the traditional version of the course?
- Has active student participation increased in the technology enhanced course as compared with the traditional version of the course?
- Does the quantity and quality of formative assessment and feedback increase in the technology enhanced course than in the traditional version of the course?
MAT121
- Has active student participation increased in the technology enhanced course as compared with the traditional version of the course?
- Does the quantity and quality of formative assessment and feedback increase in the technology enhanced course than in the traditional version of the course?
Target Outcomes
Student Behavior
- More students attend class regularly
- More students actively participate in class activities and discussions
- Fewer students drop out
Student Learning
CIS127
- Students improve their computer skills and ability to problem solve technology related challenges
- Students develop ability to work productively with others
MAT121
- Students improve their math skills
Classroom Environment
- The classroom is more interactive: students learn from one another, students work collaboratively, students communicate with the instructor
- Assessment is used formatively and students value routine assessment of the course and their understanding
- Students are informed and take more responsibility for their own learning
Instructor Learning
Both CIS127 and MAT121
- Increased use of assessment strategies
- Improved management of learning teams
CIS127
- Improved management of learning teams
Sources of Evidence
Evidence of student learning
- Students perform better on regular course assessments including homework, projects and exams
- Students get better course grades
Evidence of student engagement
- Students attend class more often and persist through the end of the course
- Students participate more actively in course activities and discussions
- Students complete assignments more regularly
- Students are less resistant to team work
- Peer interactions increase during, before and after class
Evidence of changes to classroom environment
- Greater percentage of course activities require students to use mobile technology
- More frequent use of formative assessment strategies
- Feedback more frequent and timely
- More activities and assignments involve collaboration
Collection of Data
- Student grades on homework, projects and exams
- Final course grades
- Attendance
- Assignment completion
- Enrollment/Retention
- Rubrics for tablet PC specific criteria
Comparison Evaluation Design
Comparison across sections where one instructor teaching two or more sections of the same course in the same semester will be used. The control section will use a standard computer lab with wired desktop computers in the case of CIS127 and paper in the case of MAT121. Learning teams and polling software will not be implemented. The treatment sections will use the tablet PC classroom where learning teams can gather around tables and polling software will be used to solicit responses to monitor student understanding and provide feedback.
CIS127 - An initial survey and computer skills pre-test will be used to determine if students from the different sections are comparable. The control group will take the pre-test, complete individual activities throughout the course and take the post-test. The Treatment group will take the same pre-test, complete individual activities, be assigned to a learning team, complete group activities throughout the remainder of the course and take the post-test.
MAT121 - An initial math skills pre-test will be used to determine if students from the different sections are comparable. The control group will take the pre-test, listen to lectures and take notes throughout the course, then take the post-test. The Treatment group will take the same pre-test, participate in interactive lectures through the use of Classroom Presenter, then take the post-test.