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Minutes: ALEKS USERS MEETING

October 7, 2003

5:50 PM in LB224 Area / sandwiches, vegetables, and cookies were provided by

McGraw’s Helene Fischer.

Attending: Porter, Zeranski, Shannon, Arrowsmith, Scalera

How’s the semester going?

            In general the semester is going smoothly.

Concerns?

            The book is much better. LCM, GCF, and Averages are awkward but workable.

            Supplements for the book would still be desired.

            Concerns about the students’ being all over the place have been resolved.

            Can use quizzes to get to sections in signed numbers that ALEKS is reluctant to open   

Useful Materials for Lab?

            Want  a list of what students do not have in the pie!

            Want a FAQ area fro this course, and ALEKS

            Want to know when the last time a student logs into computer.

Are Tests Corresponding to desired material?

            No problem.

            Would like some Algebra tests for students who want to work ahead.

Placement Issues?

            Still not using only ALEKS. Will check ALEKS vs. proficiency when semester ends.

Calculator?

            Not permitted, and not a problem.

Class Behavior?

            Mostly students seem happy. No serious problems in most classes.

            A few have a bad attitude.

Meeting ended at 7:15 PM.

Minutes: ALEKS USERS MEETING

October 2, 2002

5PM in LB224 Area / sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, and cookies were provided by

McGraw rep Kimberly Harris.

Attending: Porter, Leister, Kushkar, Cimino, Armington, Diamond, Stupienski, Brandolini, Coates,   

Megyesy, Kish, Wilson

How’s the semester going?

            In general the semester is going smoothly for most sections.

Concerns?

            The book doesn’t have enough substance.

            Supplements for the book would be desired.

            The students are at all different levels in the lab.

            Hard to decide what to teach when students are all over the place.

   Comments:    Al uses report feature to find out what students don’t know

                        Lecture should be used to fill in gaps between book and tests   

Useful Materials for Lab?

            Poster explaining registration and login procedure

            Poster outlining computer error procedure

            Poster detailing pie slice order

            No Food or Drink in lab signs

            Report generating instructions for Instructors with examples and pictures

            How to change student passwords!

Are Tests Corresponding to desired material?

            So far there is a good spread of grades on test 1.

            Test question #8 on Forms A,C,D in error at beginning-

                        Give students 4 more points if marked wrong.

            Test question #21 on Forms A,B,C have negative numbers-

                        Give students 4 more points if marked wrong.

            Need to cover exponents for Test 1 (need a handout on this)

            More word problems and more mixed questions as handouts

                        Everyone should submit any handouts they find relevant

Placement Issues?

            Al found a good correlation between the old placement test and ALEKS.

            We may later consider using ALEKS initial assessment to get into 030-

                        Waiting to see how it correlates to 030 success now.

            Students who finish 020 early can work on 030, and take 030 final instead of 020

            If they pass 030, can go directly to 101. If not, can still go to 031.

                        Passing grade to be discussed with Donna Goldstein

            Students working on 030 can get practice final and review materials.

            Perhaps we can have a review session open to any student?

Lab Issues? Facilities?

            2 hours of lab at one time is too long!

            Need more labs so that students do not need a long lab time.

            Need to be vacuumed and cleaned.

            LB229 is hot and dirty

            Can JKC cabinet be moved upstairs?

Calculator?

            Not permitted, and not a problem.

Class Behavior?

            Mostly students seem happy. No serious problems in most classes.

            A few have a bad attitude.

Student Info:

            Students who work 3hrs per week will save $65 if they need to repeat 020.

            Students who repeat, can resume ALEKS where they left off-

                        ALEKS will simply reassess them with more material to start

            For students who are working but ALEKS says they are not ready to take test-

                        You should extend their test taking deadline.

Assessments:

            Run an assessment just before the test/ after completing the material from slice

            Assessment can show student is ready to take test or not.

            Assessment will also fill in pieces of pie more quickly than learning mode

            %completed report will tell instructors what students need to review before test

Course Material:

            Remove even answers from book?

            More order of operations?

            Homework is less, but students seem to do more of it.

            Some students even compete to do more homework.

            Students with language problems are using the tutoring center for initial login.

Meeting ended at 6:30.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box B, Trenton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-4800 x3826

Updated on October 10, 2003