College of Western Idaho (CWI) has introduced a redesigned approach to college-preparatory math. Starting this fall, CWI will offer a new structure for remedial math instruction, which was created, in part, to address one of the key strategies from the State Board of Education’s Complete College Idaho plan. The new model replaces three courses from the previous delivery method with one course delivered in an emporium-style model.
Rather than utilizing traditional classroom delivery and same-pace instruction, the emporium model allows students to receive an individualized study plan that focuses on the mathematical concepts the student needs to master before entering college-level math courses. They will be required to attend two sessions each week in one of CWI’s new Math Solutions Centers (MSC), located in Nampa and Boise. The MSC will be staffed by faculty teams that provide one-on-one instruction and assistance during all hours of operation.
Over the past two semesters CWI served approximately 4,800 total students in college preparatory math. While the previous model saw 83 percent of college prep math students pass their courses in the 2013-14 academic year, 37 percent of students needed more than one semester to complete remedial coursework. The new model is designed to help students move through remedial math more quickly by focusing their efforts on concepts they have not yet mastered.
“The new model is designed to eliminate overlap between multiple courses,” says Susan Knights, director of CWI’s Math Solutions Center. “It will also position our students to complete the math remediation learning they need to be successful in college much more efficiently, saving them time and money.”
CWI’s new college prep math delivery is modeled after similar programs around the country that have reported high success rates.
Contact:
Jennifer Couch
(208) 562-3508
jennifercouch@cwi.edu
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The College of Western Idaho is a public, open-access, and comprehensive community college committed to providing affordable access to quality teaching and learning opportunities to the residents of its service area in western Idaho. CWI has seven campus locations throughout Southwest Idaho providing higher education and 21st Century technical skills acquisition. The college is dedicated to improving the community’s economic well-being by responding with highly-educated and productive graduates. The foundation for the area’s only community college was created by a supermajority of voters in Ada and Canyon counties on May 22, 2007. For more information about the college, visit cwi.edu or call (208) 562-3000.
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