Project Background
From 2007 - 2012, the Center for Learning & Teaching at Penn State Berks partnered with mathematics professors Valetta Eshbach and Alice Shaparenko, mathematics tutor Rebecca Yarosz, and The Learning Center, to create a series of online resources, specifically for our Math 110 courses. The online tutorials and interactive practice exercises target particular mathematical concepts that students typically struggle with.
The staff of the Center for Learning & Teaching met with Shaparenko and Eshbach to identify problematic mathematical concepts and develop an appropriate instructional approach. The project was managed under the direction of John Shank, director of the Center for Learning & Teaching. Instructional designers Bo Zigner and Amy Roche conducted the analysis phase and drafted storyboards. Instructional Multimedia Specialist Mary Ann Mengel worked with the SMEs to refine the design and subsequently complete development using Adobe Flash and Adobe Presenter. Assessment of the modules was coordinated by Amy Roche.
The idea for this project was brought to the Center for Learning & Teaching by Dr. Paul Esqueda, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Anna Donahue, manager of The Learning Center.
Four online modules (which each include a tutorial and interactive practice) were completed as of Spring 2009. Students view a short online tutorial after which they are directed to a related online practice exercise.
