Results from the Food Vouchers May 2012 Poster Showcase

Total Respondents	196
Number reported they signed up for a placement exam	81	41%
# signed up for Math Placement Exam	49	25%
# signed up for English Placement Exam	32	16%
Number reported they “learned something new”	138	70%
Number reported they “saw what students learn in other classes”	108	55%
Number reported they “discussed research topics with students”	66	33%
Number reported they “got info about the Transfer Center”	50	26%
Number reported they’d like to participate in the next event	112	57%

Note on attendance count: Attendees included actual participants who did not need to fill out a voucher. So we potentially had up to 100 additional attendees (beyond the 196 recorded here.)

Coming Soon...

In the next week, Spring 2013 applications will be available here, together with data from previous years, picture albums, instructor FAQ and participation guidelines, and scanned copies/video footage of student participant feedback. Check back!

Student Project Showcase

Every year, students at West Los Angeles College from varied classes/disciplines create project posters which document their classwork, and display them at a college-wide event. For more information, or to start the project at your campus, contact Holly Bailey-Hofmann at baileyhh@wlac.edu or by phone at 310-287-4547.

Tell Me More!

Goals and Overview

How can we increase student success in Basic Skills (and all) classes? Stanford research suggests project-based curricula to:

• Increase student motivation, participation, attendance, retention, and performance in basic skills English & all classes
• Infuse remedial level courses with excitement and momentum so students reach transfer level
• Produce writing/research sample students can use for future employment and/or transfer application essays
• Build bridges between students and any faculty members they seek out for project advisement
• Enhance academic climate on campus by celebrating these academic achievements


At our May 2011 Student Project Showcase:

-One basic skills class, English 21, participated: 30 student posters displayed.
-200 attendees on a rainy day! …lured perhaps by the jazz band and food.
-Matric Reps were on hand to sign up passerby students for Math and English assessment exams; students who talked with them got a food ticket.
-1st, 2nd, 3rd prizes and 2 Honorable Mentions presented by president for outstanding work.

This year:

-7 Classes so far will be involved, including English 21, English 103, Math, Astronomy, Anthro 111, ESL, Allied Health & Dental Hygiene: an estimated 300 students (at least) will participate May 15, 2012.

-Once again we will rely on faculty judges (who get flex credit) and AGS Honors student staffers (who get service credit hours.)

-Some supplies have been donated, but still looking for funding sources for the food and additional prizes needed this year (in three categories: Humanities, Math & Science, and Trade/Professional.)

Dream Achieved?

Of the showcase participants:

• 5 students created their project poster 4 to 6 weeks before it was due. (2011)
• 6 students finished all eight required pages of the research project up to 3 weeks before the due date. (2011)
• On Part I of the project, the first two pages of the research paper, the lowest grade was a C. (2011)
• 3 students (and counting) have returned this semester to share their experiences with my current English 21 class. (2012)
• Students in Fran Leonard’s English 103 class attended the 2011 showcase and wrote about it for credit. (2011)
• On the first day of this year’s English 21, students were welcomed into a gallery of last year’s project posters, and urged to look around. Contrast this welcome in a remedial course with a typical first day! (2012)
• Already this semester, 2 students submitted their project proposals before the due date. (2012)
• 6 of the project proposals submitted on time were 1-2 pages longer than the required 1 page! (2012)


Spring 2012 English 21 Topics

Belize
Slavery in the United States
Short-Term and Long-Term Memories in Alzheimer’s Patients
Alzheimer’s Disease
Epilepsy
Origin of Profanity (2)
Hurricane Katrina
Spanish and Italian
“Food for Moods”
Football Scholarships
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Nutritious Living and Eating Healthy (2)
Music and How it Has Changed
Dance vs. Cheerleading
Firefighters / Becoming a Firefighter (3)
Bipolar Disorder
FBI
Madonna, Legendary Icon
Addiction to Drugs and Smoking
Becoming a Psychologist
Abortion (2)
Mental Illness in Youth
The Knights Templar
Origin of the Automobile
Women in the Entertainment Industry
Coaching
War