Quantitative Literacy: Analysis of a Q-Course

• Activity Number: 177
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 4, 2014 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Kimberly Massaro*+ and Ermine Orta and Rajendra Boppana and Daniel Sass and Christopher Straud and Michael Sanchez
• Companies: University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio and University of Texas at San Antonio
• Keywords: Quantitative Literacy ; Quantitative Reasoning ; Analysis of course effectiveness ; Analysis of student performance

Abstract

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) has developed the Quantitative Literacy Program (QLP) to enhance student learning with quantitative literacy (QL) across the general education curriculum. These enhanced courses (i.e. Q-courses) range from stem disciplines such as math and science to liberal arts such as English, History, and Writing. Since course content varies amongst disciplines, the QLP developed a way to assess student performance across the courses by incorporating common student learning outcomes (SLOs). Student performance was assessed based on an analysis of a pre- and post-test, which focused on QL that is specific to material covered in that discipline. Every item on the test relates to the QLP SLO's and an analysis is conducted to test the impact of student learning of QL in each course. Additionally QL-based assignments are given during the semester to foster student learning and are also categorized using the QLP SLOs. The results of a Q-course analysis may be used to assess Q-course performance and improve QL related pedagogy. Ultimately, the results of a Q-course analysis will be used for assessment of the QLP program.