QLAB Update and Discussion at LACOL 2018

Sessions: QLAB discussions at LACOL 2018
Discussion Leads – QLAB Core Team:

  • Melissa Eblen-Zayas, Professor of Physics, Carleton College
  • Jonathan Leamon, Director of Instructional Technology, Williams College
  • Laura Muller, Director of Quantitative Skills Programs and Peer Support, Williams College
  • Janet Russell, Director of Academic Technology, Carleton College

Presentation file: QLAB overview summer 2018

The QLAB core team led a workshop session to update QLAB participants on the latest developments with the project. The team presented a redesign for the next phases of the project, reflecting a perspective shift from crowdsourcing new or curated materials to adapting existing, validated materials with the multi-campus faculty team. Several lessons learned from the fall 2018 QLAB pilot were discussed. Participants engaged in brainstorming around the applicability of the problems in the validated online skill building modules “The Math You Need When You Need It” for Geosciences and Economics and “Math Bench” for Biology.  Discussion focused on the possible scope of each Qbit, and ways to engage faculty in appropriately framing the Q skill for use in their course(s).

The team is awaiting word on their NSF IUSE proposal, “Online modules for quantitative skill building: Exploring adaptation and adoption across a consortium.”  If funded, the proposal outlines a three year project in which the teams at Carleton and Williams take the lead in initial stages of content development and testing of Qbit modules. In subsequent stages, faculty and learning assistance staff from across participating LACOL schools will engage in an iterative process for adaptation, adoption, testing and reflection on the use of online resources.