Pilot for the Math Placement Test (late Spring 2018)

Rationale 

The Math Department in collaboration with the Assessment Centers will be piloting a free online learning tool to help students to prepare before they attempt the Math Accuplacer for the first time. Too often students are not properly prepared for high stakes assessment testing and finding a way to help students prepare in a timely fashion is a significant challenge.  We believe that a reasonable amount of targeted, guided learning provided ahead of time may have a significant impact on student placement. This pilot will provide resources at no cost to students so that we can measure if what we believe is true.  Funding for this pilot has been provided by a grant in which colleges across Maryland are participating.  Results will be analyzed by an independent agency to determine effectiveness.

Summary of Process/Timeline 

In the spring 2018, students will be randomly selected by the Assessment Centers to participate in this pilot.  Selected students will be required to complete at least 4 hours with preparatory resources before they take the Math Accuplacer for the first time.  Students in the experimental group will be given free access to ALEKS PPL, a formative assessment tool, intended to help them to prepare for the high stakes Accuplacer test.  Students will be given instructions on how to log on, complete a diagnostic test, and learning modules will be created to address the areas in which the diagnostic test determines they can build upon their skills.  Lab space will be provided at each campus to support students who want to complete the learning modules at MC.  Once students have completed the required hours on the learning modules, they will be able to return to the Assessment Centers to take their Math Accuplacer test.  All other testing will not be affected by this pilot. 

To determine whether it is the program making the difference or simply asking students to do a little review, there is also a control group of roughly 450 students in this pilot, who will be asked to complete a comparable amount of study time using other resources freely available online.  These students will be given instructions on how to log on and access to resources where they can build upon their skills.  They will also be able to utilize the lab space on each campus. 
No more than 900 students will be participating in this portion of the pilot (450 in the experimental group and 450 in the control group). The pilot will begin after Spring Break and continue until all codes have been used.  Peak advising times will be avoided and students will be minimally inconvenienced.   

FAQ

How will the Assessment Center determine which students are selected to be a part of the pilot and which will not? 

The Assessment Centers on each campus will have a process of randomly selecting students for the pilot.  Other students will go through the same Accuplacer testing process as they always have.  A selected student will be asked to complete at least 4 hours of preparatory work (either as part of the experiment or as part of the control). 

How will the students know if they are part of the pilot or not? 

Students who are randomly selected to be a part of the pilot will be given instructions and tracked by the Assessment Center.  This information will be coded in Starfish and students will be asked to complete the hours before they are tested.

Will this affect the reading, English, and ESL Accuplacer? 

No.  A student who comes in for testing can complete the other sections of the Accuplacer as they normally would.

What will happen with students who are selected for participating in the math Accuplacer pilot? 

They will be given instructions telling them that they need to complete at least 4 hours of preparatory resources before they return to the Assessment Center to complete the math Accuplacer.  These materials will be available in the Math 080 Labs at each campus and are accessible online from anywhere.  All test preparation materials are free to the student.

Who may I contact with additional questions? 

Questions counselors have should go to John Hamman, Milton Nash, or Bess Vincent.
Students with additional questions should email mathplacement@montgomerycollege.edu