Great Plains Conference on Acceleration Schedule

A. Dr. Melissa Renfrow, Metropolitan CC-Kansas City

• Presentation Materials

"Building Confidence & Competency in Developmental Writing Students"

English/Reading

Many developmental writing students start strong, then stop attending or completing course work. Anecdotal evidence suggests that students stop because they lack confidence in their abilities to do college-level work. A lack of confidence can lead to a lack of self-efficacy, engagement, and, in turn, competency. Does instructor assessment of student work play a role in this problem? The presenter will share promising results from a developmental writing course with redesigned assessment of student work.

B. Dr. Mindy Trenary, Jennifer Montgomery, Jenny Kidd, Butler CC

• Presentation Materials

"Overcoming Barriers:  OER & Developmental Education"

All

A holistic approach is required for student success in developmental education courses, which requires careful consideration of ancillaries, namely, textbooks and materials. The cost, quality, and relevancy of materials directly affect student retention and success rates. This presentation looks at the intersection of developmental education and OERs and how materials support developmental education’s mission and best practices by highlighting Butler CC’s Fundamentals of English OER textbook. Yet each institution must decide what works best for its student body. A brief question and answer session will be included to help you think about your institution’s and class’s needs.

C. Cory Teubner, Butler CC

Presentation Materials

• Reading Log A
• Reading Log B
• Annotations Crib Sheet
• Using Backward Design

"Using Backward Design to Build Confidence & Empower Leaders"

English/Reading

This session will use actual lesson prompts from an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) course at Butler CC to demonstrate how backward design can position ALP students as confident classroom leaders. Participants will discuss and critique the merit of various modes of ALP showcased in the session ranging across content type, including writing assignments, mechanics instruction, and ideas and discussion.

A. Cory Teubner, Butler CC

Presentation Materials

• Assignment Types
• PDX Assignments
• All Aboard!

“All Aboard! Lessons from Butler CC’s First-Year Experience Courses"

All

The Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) at Butler CC has matured alongside a series of First Year Experience courses which have brought to light teaching and course design practices that apply in developmental contexts, especially when they seek to help new students transition to college work and life. This session will introduce these practices and discuss how they may enrich students’ experiences by broadening their understandings of what college learning offers and developing their senses of educational purpose.

B. Dr. Bethany Chandler, Robert Zavala, Cindy Bond, Butler CC

• Presentation Materials

"Transitions from Traditional Math to Modules," Part I

Math

In 2018 Butler CC’s Math Department launched a redesigned program of math modules. Two years prior they began the process of researching various modalities, including their pros and cons. In this session, three department leaders will share the reasons they chose modules, the program's design, and its recent results.

C. Jim Buchhorn, Butler CC

• Presentation Materials

“Rigorous Support: Helping Students Achieve the Expectations We Set for Them”

Eng/Rd

In the English Department’s Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) at Butler CC, we place great emphasis on “rigor” and expect our students to do “college-level work,” but we know that we can’t just expect them to do this type of work without offering them plenty of support. This session will discuss strategies, techniques, and ideas to help you feel confident that you’ve added in the “support factor” when you assign your students to do challenging writing assignments, reading assignments, etc.

A. Krystal Cox & Ann McBee, Des Moines Area CC

• Presentation Materials

"Year Two of the Pandemic: Connecting & Celebrating to Fortify Students"

All

The pandemic has asked us to continuously reflect and adapt. What have we learned about guiding students who spent their last year of high school online and are now in our hybrid college classes? What issues remain? At Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC), we are five years into our accelerated program in English composition and are rediscovering the importance of connecting with students while coaching them through self-regulated learning, study skills, and self-reflection. These demands are significant, and we recognize the need for collaboration and celebration, with the goal of creating supportive classroom communities that foster a sense of belonging. In working with colleagues in the classroom and student services, we are working to make intentional choices about how to reach out to students, connect them with peer mentors and resources, and follow up with them throughout their DMACC experience.

B. Dr. Bethany Chandler, Robert Zavala, Cindy Bond, Butler CC

• Presentation Materials

"Transitions from Traditional Math to Modules," Part II

Math

In 2018 Butler CC’s Math Department launched a redesigned program of math modules. In this second presentation about their program redesign, three department leaders will share key factors and steps in the implementation of the program, including placement, people, and policies.

C. Dr. Susan Bradley, Kathy McCoskey Butler CC

Presentation Materials

• Butler ALP Signature Sheet
• Planting & Growing

"Planting and Growing an English Corequisite Program"

English/Reading

Nine years after its implementation, Butler CC’s Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) continues to make provide college-level English access for developmental students with significantly higher levels of success than in standalone developmental courses. In this session, we will share key steps and decisions that were made in the implementation and scaling up of this program, as well as our current data.

A. Leonard Geddes

• Presentation Materials

Transition Traps & Gaps

Come to further discuss and ask questions of our keynote speaker, Leonard Geddes, regarding students’ transition to college and solutions.

B. Cory Teubner

English Corequisite Programs & Curriculum

Come to discuss aspects of English corequisite instruction & curriculum with Cory Teubner, Associate Professor at Butler CC and veteran ALP instructor, and your other conference colleagues!

C. Dr. Bethany Chandler

Math Programs & Curriculum

Come to discuss aspects of math program redesign & curriculum with Dr. Bethany Chandler, Lead Math Professor at Butler CC, and your other conference colleagues!

D. Dr. Elena Allen

Reading Programs & Curriculum