QLAB – Timeline

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Overview

Timeline

Needs Assessment

Team Members

Information about Modules

 September 2019:

  • Needs assessment survey to faculty at all 10 LACOL institutions who teach introductory science or social science courses that make use of quantitative skills

November 2019:

  • Round-robin discussions at Carleton, Davidson, & Williams to refine scope and content of three modules

Early December 2019:

  • Prototype modules mocked up

December 2019:

  • Mini-workshops at Carleton, Davidson, & Williams to get feedback on prototypes

Winter 2020:

  • QLAB project leaders visit additional LACOL schools to discuss project goals and share prototype modules

Spring 2020:

  • Module development on hold due to COVID-19

Summer 2020:

  • LACOL faculty reviewers provide input on disciplinary application problems for module
  • Students at Carleton and Williams revise modules based on feedback on prototypes, as well as providing a student perspective on modules
  • Online presentations and discussions with small groups of LACOL faculty 
  • QLAB project results from faculty needs assessment survey presented at PERC 2020 and published in PERC 2020 Proceedings

Fall 2020:

  • Modules were tested by faculty at Carleton, Davidson, and Williams.
  • Focus group interview with fall module users (led by SERC) indicated that faculty found the disciplinary wrapping of the practice problems to be authentic and the materials to be of high quality. Modules were useful refreshers, and one mentioned that the modules “seemed to be more supportive than assessive.”

Winter 2021:

Summer 2021:

  • QLAB activities at the LACOL consortium-wide workshop in June 2021 including a discussion of the “keepers” from 2020-2021 year and updates on the QLAB project and potential new directions.
  • Discussions with LACOL faculty and staff to inform the development of a new module on partial differentiation — August 11 and 25, 10-11 am ET.
  • QLAB-facilitated discussion about exploring approaches to assessing and supporting students quantitative skills in the test-optional era — August 18, 10-11 am ET.

Winter and Spring 2022:

  • Campus dialog leaders from nine LACOL institutions met to discuss and share approaches to summer bridge programs, quantitative skills assessments and placement exams, and ancillary support for quantitative skills development.
  • QLAB mini-grant opportunity for campus dialog leaders to support assessment or professional development activities to strengthen the quantitative skills ecosystem. 

Summer 2022: 

  • QLAB roundtable discussion, “Models for engaging faculty and staff on cross-institutional projects”, at the LACOL consortium workshop at Davidson College
  • Mini-grants awarded to Bowdoin, Carleton, and Swarthmore.

Fall 2022: