developmental math redesign

Developmental Mathematics Redesign Update

Determining the Curriculum and Student Learning Outcomes

By Jane Serbousek, Math Professor, Northern Virginia Community College

The Curriculum Team for Developmental Mathematics Redesign has begun meeting this fall. Vice presidents from each of the 23 colleges nominated a mathematics faculty member from their colleges to serve on the team. NOVA and TCC were invited to designate two representatives. These representatives also know the importance of communicating with their respective faculty members to get widespread feedback and discussion about the content of these precollege units.

To provide shape to the curriculum, the Curriculum Team will create a Curriculum Guide as outlined below by dividing up the nine units among three subgroups. Colleges will use the Curriculum Guide in the spring 2011 semester to determine how to implement the redesign on their campuses, select materials and create assessments.

Subgroups will work between face-to-face meetings through conference calls, Blackboard and email. Each subgroup will have a staff member to help with logistics.

Tentative Timeline

Sept 8 meeting	Background, overview, begin work in subgroups
October 14 meeting	Discuss and reach consensus on SLOs and a format for the guide. Subgroups begin work on the rest of the curriculum guide.
November 19 meeting	Finalize the rest of the Curriculum Guide
Dec	Finalize report. The Curriculum Team report will include the Curriculum Guide and recommendations resulting from discussions of implementation issues.

Suggested Outline of Topics for the Curriculum Guide:

Unit X (See Appendix B of The Critical Point for a description of the 9 units.)

Overview of unit (how it fits in the overall curriculum and its importance in subsequent courses)
List of major student learning outcomes in alignment with the content found in Appendix B of The Critical Point
Detailed list of major student learning outcomes with more specific ones listed with each broad topic
Sample assessment to determine mastery
Sample syllabus
Suggested timeline for covering the major student learning outcomes
Examples of contextual problems
Teacher tips, suggested resources and suggestions for delivery methods

Team members have been asked to consult their colleagues in all areas, including contextual problems from math and other disciplines. The deans will assist us in working with CTE programs to develop contextual problems and identify the units that will be required by each of the CTE programs.

The work of the Curriculum Team will pave the way for a smaller group of mathematics faculty experts in Spring 2011 who will work with the identified vendor to develop the placement and diagnostic instruments that undergird the redesign. Practice tests will also be developed in conjunction with the identified vendor.

Members of Curriculum Team

1	Theresa Thomas	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Blue Ridge
2	Cindy Wallin	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Central Virginia
3	Gary Appel	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Dabney S. Lancaster
4	Mary Motley	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Danville
5	Paul Custis	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Eastern Shore
6	Jack Gill	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Germanna
7	Kay Brooks	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	J. Sargeant Reynolds
8	Ken Williams	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	John Tyler
9	Mike Garrand	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Lord Fairfax
10	Sylvia Brown	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Mountain Empire
11	Charlotte Audas	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	New River
12	Marty Bredeck	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	NOVA
13	Jane Serbousek, Chair	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	NOVA
14	Bronte Miller	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Patrick Henry
15	Justin Oliver	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Paul D. Camp
16	Jon Hexter	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Piedmont Virginia
17	Linda Deptola	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Rappahannock
18	James Wilkerson	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Southside Virginia
19	Ann Marie Trivette	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Southwest Virginia
20	Theresa Nystrom	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Thomas Nelson
21	David French	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Tidewater
22	Dick Gill	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Tidewater
23	Pansy Waycaster	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Virginia Highlands
24	Rachelle Koudelik-Jones	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Virginia Western
25	Susan Evans	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	Wytheville
27	Donna Jovanovich	This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it	System Office