Supporting College and Adult Learner Success in Mathematics
Mathematics is known to be one of the barriers to college completion and economic mobility, particularly for students and adults who are systemically underserved. WestEd partners with faculty, administrators, and postsecondary education systems to provide high-quality course solutions, professional support, and technical assistance that helps colleges and adult learning programs implement evidence-based mathematics practices that improve student learning and outcomes.
Making an Impact Through Research and Evaluation
Our evidence-based programming in postsecondary education dramatically changes student learning experiences and outcomes in mathematics, propelling students toward their college and career goals. Here are two examples of our robust and detailed research and evaluation.
BY SCOTT STROTHER, KARON KLIPPLE
Carnegie Math Pathways corequisite offerings were piloted at two institutions in spring 2018 and made fully available in fall 2018. This brief examines the experiences of faculty and students; explores the elements of successful implementation, such as number of contact hours, use of cohort models, and faculty preparedness; and discusses implementation challenges, including managing class time and supporting students with varied levels of reading and of foundational mathematics knowledge. Finally, it provides suggestions for improvement in the enhancement of these offerings, such as streamlining materials and building mechanisms for faculty support, and plans to respond to those suggestions.
Using Multiple Measures to Predict Success in Students’ First College Math Course
BY KATHY REEVES BRACCO, KEVIN (CHUN-WEI) HUANG, TONY FONG, NEAL FINKELSTEIN
This report concludes a multiyear series of studies intended to inform the California State University (CSU) system about the implementation of policy that eliminates noncredit developmental courses in Written Communication and Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning, as well as the process for how students are placed into those courses, and how students are supported overall to succeed.
Our Work in Action
Carnegie Math Pathways
Carnegie Math Pathways has proven that students don’t need multiple levels of remediation to succeed in college math. For over a decade, students in Quantway and Statway courses have succeeded at triple the rate of students in the traditional math sequence. First developed at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and now at WestEd, these course solutions use an evidence-based instructional approach, contextualized curricula, and social emotional supports to create a supportive and engaging math learning experience that helps students persist and succeed directly in college level math.
Beginning in March 2024, Carnegie Math Pathways is broadening access to these impactful course solutions be releasing them as Open Educational Resources (OER), increasing their affordability for students while enabling educators to reuse, modify, build upon, and share the course content in support of students’ learning.
Adult Numeracy in the Digital Era (ANDE)
In partnership with the CREATE Adult Skills Network, WestEd is developing and evaluating a technology-based numeracy course for adult learners called Adult Numeracy in the Digital Era (ANDE). The course, and the accompanying professional development program and instructional support materials, aims to improve adult learners’ quantitative reasoning and digital literacy skills. ANDE builds on the evidence-based Carnegie Math Pathways’ curricula and adaptive technologies, which have been shown to successfully address specific learning gaps, support social–emotional learning, and promote engagement and persistence.
Our Resources
WestEd believes that investment in faculty is one of the important keys to student success. WestEd offers multiple supports to help postsecondary educators engage in powerful and equitable learning experiences designed to improve student success. Here are some examples.
Carnegie Math Pathways First-Year Support
Robust training, onboarding support, and mentorship from experienced peers in the Carnegie Math Pathways educator community are available to all new faculty, helping encourage preparation and readiness in first-year Pathways teaching.
Online but Not Alone: Supporting Inclusion and Belonging in the Online Learning Environment
In this second webinar in the Carnegie Math Pathways’ Quality Instruction series, Pathways course designers Rachel Beattie and Lewis Hosie explore what it takes to cultivate a supportive student learning experience in the online space.
Inclusive and Equitable Instructional Design: A Foundation for Student Success
In this first webinar in the Carnegie Math Pathways’ series on quality instruction, we explore how educators build the foundation for student success with inclusive and equity-minded teaching.
Keep Calm and Teach On: Best Practices for Online and Hybrid Math Instruction
Maintaining connection and engagement weeks into an online course is challenging. In this webinar faculty discuss strong practices that have helped both students and instructors survive and thrive in an online math course.