March 2013

The Comprehensive Assessment Tracking System ("CATS", found at http://cats.estrellamountain.edu) is a technology-based, fully-integrated system for sharing innovative teaching and assessment practices.  This open access system has revolutionized the way that EMCC employees share strategies to improve student learning. In short, CATS  is where Facebook® intersects with learning.  The system has been recognized as EMCC's "Innovation of the Year" by EMCC's Innovation of the Year committee.

Having read about the "Flipped Method" of instruction, and feeling it particularly applicable for hybrid classes, I solicited an honors student, for her project, to help create a flipped lesson for a course competency. Prior to start of class, students:

• Viewed a Ppt of key points with voice-over embedding.
• Filled out a note sheet as they went through the Ppt. This was their Ticket in the door for the next class.

In-class activities:

Last week, I took the last 5 minutes of class and asked students to write which concepts were the mot confusing ("muddiest") for them of the current and previous chapter.  I categorized the results with the help of Excel (attached) to find out the most troublesome concepts.  I discovered that there were five areas that had multiple student mention, including the calculation of inflation (CPI) and unemployment calculation.  I restructured my lesson plan for the next today's class to first focus on those 5 specific areas as review.

The CHM 130 class is designed for students to learn through group work and discovery based activities.  One of the drawbacks from this method is students ability to grasp concepts at the same pace as their peers.  Many times students leave the class unsure of the core concept addressed in the class period.  Videotaping lectures lends itself to student apathy during class.  The solution I am persuing this semester is videotaping quick 3-5 min snapshots of core concepts and posting them on blackboard for all 9 section of the class.  I am using student whiteboards as m