1. Enabling Students to Succeed in Mathematics by Changing Student Perceptions Christine Mirbaha AMATYC 40 th Annual Conference Nashville, Tennessee November 15, 2014 S-154 CCBC The Community College of Baltimore County

2. Affective Domain ●Krathwohl, Bloom, and Masia o a.k.a. Krathwohl’s Taxonomy o Five major categories ●Attributes focus for project o Beliefs o Values o Attitudes o Emotions (feelings)

3. Project Goals ● Cultivate a positive attitude toward mathematics ● Nurture a positive attitude in my students toward learning new mathematical concepts ● Increase my students’ confidence levels in mastering mathematical concepts

4. Project Goals ● Increase student retention and success rates in my mathematics classes ● Decrease my students’ anxiety levels when taking mathematics tests ● Increase my students’ overall self-esteem

5. Intended Consequences ● students would be more eager ● focused ● more prepared for class ● spend more time outside of class studying their mathematics ● participate more fully in the discussions and class work

6. Design and Implementation ● First Day Survey o Mathematics attitudes o Student expectations o Demographics ● Positive Thoughts o Write positive word(s) about math class every day ● Last Day Survey o To determine outcomes

7. Semester Observations ● Increased positive attitudes toward mathematics in general ● No students dropped during the semester ● Students came prepared for every class o More homework completed o Read ahead for each class ● Everyone contributed to the class every day ● Self-esteem improved in general

8. Successful Completion Pass Rates ● CCBC – MATH 081 Spring 2014: ~48.6% ● CCBC – MATH 083 Spring 2014: ~51.1% ● MATH 081 9D1 Spring 2014: 100% ● MATH 083 DLA: ~68.2%

9. Comparing Survey Results First Day Survey vs. Last Day Survey ● Mathematics interest level improved ● Perceived ability levels increased ● Student expectations somewhat unchanged ● Students spent more time than anticipated studying

10. Finds Math Interesting

11. Finds Math Challenging

12. Confidence Levels

13. Samples of Positive Student Perceptions

14. Additional/Alternate Strategies ●Suggestions by session participants ●Gratuity Jar ●Ask about their best math teacher ●25 habits of successful traits/characteristics ●Groups share what they do well ●How was it initially? ●Have students explain to each other; they support each other

15. Coming Attractions ● Repeat of project for AY 2015 o To determine overall effectiveness o To gather additional data ● Longitudinal study of college math success ● Include flipping instruction in future semesters to increase effectiveness

16. References Bai, H., Wang, L., Pan, W., & Frey, M., “Measuring mathematics anxiety: Psychometric analysis of a bidimensional affective scale”. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 36 (3), pages 185-193, (2009). http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Measuring+mathematics+anxiety:+psychometric+analysis+o f+a...-a0211235540 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Measuring+mathematics+anxiety:+psychometric+analysis+o f+a...-a0211235540 Baldwin, Ebert-May, & Burns, Baldwin Confidence Survey Form (1999). http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2003/2003wittrosed.pdf http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2003/2003wittrosed.pdf Clark, Don. Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains: Affective Domain. http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html Clutts, David W. Mathematics Self-Efficacy of Community College Students in Developmental Mathematics Courses (Dissertation: Liberty University, October 2010). http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1416&context=doctoral http://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1416&context=doctoral Dweck, Carol S., Ph.D., Mindset: The New Psychology of Success (New York: Random House, 2006). Tapia, Martha; Marsh, George E. II, Attitude Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) Survey Form. http://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/cho25344l.htmhttp://www.rapidintellect.com/AEQweb/cho25344l.htm

17. Questions or Comments?

18. Thank you! Christine Mirbaha cmirbaha@ccbcmd.edu