This presentation will provide an overview of the initiative undertaken to improve the success rate of students enrolling in CIS 110 Intro to Computers. Presenters will cover the development and implementation of a standardized Moodle curriculum for all delivery modes and the use of an industry recognized certification to develop course objectives,mandatory instructor requirements,the pitfalls and lessons learned in developing and establishing a computer placement test and college-wide computer placement test policies, and the addition of a developmental computer course.

1. A Model for Student Success in a High
Demand Course
Greg Robison
Shelley Allen
Pitt Community College

2. Model
• CIS 110 Course Management & Delivery Mode

3. The Problem
–Inconsistent material covered across course sections
–High percentage of students not successfully completing the
course with a grade of C, or better.
–High percentage of students repeating the course.
–Teaching students with a high degree of prior knowledge and
teaching students with no prior knowledge, in the same class.
–Exploding student enrollment

4. Student Success [2006/07 – 2008/09]
A
808
26%
D, F, I, OW, W
1466
47%
B
496
16%
C
349
11%

5. CIS 110 Repeaters [Spring 2009]
Repeaters Spring 2009; 23%
Total Enrolled Spring 2009; 77%

6. Enrollment
2012/13 = 2170 Students
2011/12 = 1723 Students
2010/11 = 2057 Students
2009/10 = 2233 Students
2008/09 = 1664 Students
2007/08 = 1380 Students
2006/07 = 1206 Students

7. Fall 2012 Snapshot
– Enrollment
• CIS 070
• 3 Sections [40 Students]
• CIS 110
• 50 Sections [1156 Students]
• 6 100% Classroom
• 14 Blended [Classroom/Online]
• 30 Online [Moodle]
– Faculty
• 16 Adjunct faculty
• 5 Full-time faculty
• 1 Lead instructor

8. Changes Since 2008/09 AY
• New Textbook Adopted [CMPTR]
• Course aligned with the IC3 Certification
• Converted from Blackboard to Moodle
• Standardized Course – All Delivery Modes
• Adoption of SAM (Skills Assessment Manager)
• Developmental Computer Course (CIS 070)
• Challenge Exam
• Computer Placement Test
• Measurable Course Learning Objectives
• Faculty IC3 Certification Required
• Annual Faculty Training

9. Computer Placement Test Timeline
•2008/2010 – Development & Approval Process
–Test format & Questions
–Delivery options
•Accuplacer
•2010/11 – Pilot
•Cut-off score
•Second version of the test
•Waivers and exceptions
•Fall 2011 – Mandatory
•Computer Placement Test Policy
•Computer Placement Test v1

10. CIS 070 Fundamentals of Computing
• Pilot 2010/11 AY
– Self enroll, advisor, instructor recommendation
• 2011/12 AY
– Added as CIS 110 Pre-requisite
– Placement via computer placement test
– Fall 2012
• Course Outline
• Moodle

11. CIS 110 Challenge Exam
– Started 2009/10 AY
– 5 to 15 students each semester
– 70% score a C, or better
– Challenge Exam Policy
– SAM

12. Using An Industry Standard Certification
• Certiport IC3 Global Standard
• Certiport

13. Course Learning Objectives - Before
•Identify the components of a personal computer
•Use the Internet for communication and research
•Identify popular personal computer operating systems
•Identify popular business application software
•Identify Input and Output devices
•Identify and describe storage media types
•Demonstrate effective use of a Windows operating system
•Demonstrate effective use of the introductory features of MS Word
•Demonstrate effective use of the introductory features of MS Excel
•Demonstrate effective use of the features of MS Powerpoint
•Identify the structure of a data base
•Use a simple database

14. Measurable Course Learning Objectives - After
Course Learning Objectives Assessment Performance Standard Result
Demonstrate the ability to use Skills Based Test 70% of students score 85% of students
computer application software. 70% or higher scored 70% or higher
Identify the functions and Objective Test 70% of students score 92% of students
purposes of computer 70% or higher scored 70% or higher
hardware, software, and utility
programs and devices.
Demonstrate an understanding Objective Test 70% of students score 93% of students
of the Internet and the WWW. 70% or higher scored 70% or higher
Describe the functions and Objective Test 70% of students score 93% of students
purposes of an operating Skills Based Test 70% or higher scored 70% or higher
system.

15. Faculty Certification & Training
• Obtain IC3 Certification
– Certiport Test Center
• Attend yearly on-campus training
– 2012 Training Agenda

16. After the Improvement Process
– 85% [53%] of students successfully completing the
course
– All sections are standardized therefore all students
receiving the same instruction.
– Process in place to identify students who are ready for
CIS 110, thus raising the bar for the course. (Placement
test)
– Challenge exam in place for students who do not need
the course.

17. Lessons learned….
 Shorter timeline for implementation and adoption
 Communicate/educate more effectively
 Seek out college-wide platforms
 Has led to improvements in other courses
 Strengthened CIS 110 as a pre-requisite for our
major courses

18. Next Steps…
Computer Placement Test
• Adding critical thinking/scenario type questions to the placement
test.
CIS 070 – Reduced Class Size [Spring 2013]
Stackable Courses
• CIS 070 – 8 Weeks [Fall 2013]
• CIS 110 – 8 Weeks [Fall 2013]