Instructional Technology
Conference 2007

Title: Developing a Blackboard Mathematics Course Using Course Compass (MML)

Name: Shirley Hagewood, Kay Haralson, Pat Perdew, Jennie Preston-Sabin, Loretta Griffy

Audience Level: mathematics faculty at any level and others that are instructional technology specialists, lab directors and others.

Audience: beginning but other levels will gain valable information.

Length: 2 hours

Abstract:
The presenters will conduct a hands-on workshop that will provide each of the attendees the opportunity to develop or begin the development of a mini-computer-based mathematics course. Participants will be provided course shells and MyMathLab course codes supported by Addison-Wesley Course Compass. Information on setting up homework exercises, practice tests, quizzes, tutorial sessions, accessing and viewing videos and animations, setting up a gradebook and looking at statistics included in the MML course materials will be discussed. Presenters will demonstrate how to use the Navigation Tools as follows: Announcements, Assignments, Course Documents, Course Information, Digital Drop Box, Discussion Board, Installation Wizard, Staff Information, External Links, and other. In addition, sample Camtasia (movie & voice) files produced to address TI-84 calculator functions in mathematics courses will be demonstrated.

Description:
More and more colleges and universities are competing for students because of the growing world-wide focus on developing web-based curricula that offers bachelors, masters and even doctoral degrees without one ever spending a single day on the campus. Because of this desire to compete for students, many colleges and universities are pursuing faculties who know how to develop and teach computer-based courses. When faced with administrative desires to compete and provide some of our lecture-based core mathematics classes to computer-based courses, many of our faculty had significant concerns and reservations. Some of our faculty taught one course and said ‘never again’. However, being placed in this situation, many of us have done what all professors with integrity would do and have developed courses we believe will best educate our students and provide sound mathematics skills. We have used the Course Compass website developed by Addison-Wesley and its textbook specific components to create a completely computer-based delivery method with computer-based assessments and limited on-campus testing. Using a computer-based system requires more self-motivation and self-discipline than many under-prepared students are willing to maintain. However, when students have successfully completed the core computer-based mathematics courses, success in other mathematics courses appears to be as good as or better than students coming from a lecture-based course.

The presenters have spent many hours and even years developing computer-based classes and researching software that provides the best help for mathematics students. Thus, it is our desire to provide a hands-on workshop that will provide each of the attendees the opportunity to develop or begin the development of a mini-computer-based mathematics course. Participants will be provided course shells and MyMathLab course codes supported by Addison-Wesley Course Compass. Information on setting up homework exercises, practice tests, quizzes, tutorial sessions, accessing and viewing videos and animations, setting up a gradebook and looking at statistics included in the MML course materials will be discussed. Presenters will demonstrate how to use the Navigation Tools as follows: Announcements, Assignments, Course Documents, Course Information, Digital Drop Box, Discussion Board, Installation Wizard, Staff Information, External Links, and other. In addition, sample Camtasia (movie & voice) files produced to address TI-84 calculator functions in mathematics courses will be demonstrated.

In the future, we hope that the continual evolution of our computer-based courses will provide a course design that most students will find as effective as a traditional course. The success of this course design will hinge on the diligence and proper study skills of students, and excellent guidance from instructors.

Session Type: Hands on Workshop

Contact information/affiliation:
Shirley Hagewood
Austin Peay State Univ.
931-221-7813(office)
hagewoods@apsu.edu

Kay Haralson
Austin Peay State Univ.
931-221-7608
haralsonk@apsu.edu

Pat Perdew
Austin Peay State Univ.
931-221-7037
perdewp@apsu.edu

Jennie Preston-Sabin
Austin Peay State Univ.
931-221-1415
preston-sabinj@apsu.edu

Loretta Griffy
Austin Peay State Univ.
931-221-1451
griffyl@apsu.edu