Discipline: Mathematics & Statistics
Subcategory: STEM Science and Mathematics Education
Anna Harris - University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
There is rising concern about America’s ability to maintain its competitive position in the global economy due to lack of graduates with training and expertise in STEM fields, and one of the primary reasons students switch or drop out of STEM disciplines is Mathematics instruction. In addition, College Algebra is one of major bottleneck courses for many STEM students, especially incoming first-generation minority STEM students at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. To enhance minority STEM majors’ Mathematics performance the P.I and her Peer-Led-Team-Learning (PLTL) leaders infused cyber/web-based (CWB) and research/project-based (RPB) learning. Furthermore, the P.I. developed a co-requisite College Algebra class and updated course curriculum incorporating evidence-based instruction materials and activities. The P.I. and her PLTL leaders also created a comprehensive communal mathematics learning center for implementing evidence-based learning activities. The PLTL leaders were handpicked and trained by the P.I. The results showed students were very satisfied with their learning and their performance.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF HBCU-UP Targeted Infusion Project
Faculty Advisor: None Listed,