Enhancing Student Education Through Quantitative Reasoning

• Activity Number: 189
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 5, 2013 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Ermine Orta*+ and Kimberly Massaro and Rajendra Boppana and Nandini Kannan
• Companies: The University of Texas at San Antonio and UTSA and The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Keywords: Core Curriculum ; Quantitative Literacy ; Training Faculty

Abstract

The University of Texas at San Antonio began a five year plan in fall 2011 to integrate quantitative reasoning (QR) skills across various disciplines in the general education curriculum. Prior to each fall semester, a team specializing in quantitative literacy (QL), writing, and course redesign train faculty to enhance their course with QR. The University funds the initial faculty group and subsequently supplies the faculty with supplemental support for teaching assistants. After enhancing their course with QL, the faculty members become the mentors for others in their discipline. The courses taught by the faculty members are then considered a Q-course. The results of academic year 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 will be presented. Some of the results will include the number of students taking a Q-course, the number of faculty teaching a Q-course, and the percent of each domain covered. This program provides sustainability to integrate QL in the general education as a means to enhance student education in quantitative reasoning skills.