The Usefulness of Linked Data for Improving Math Course Placement and Instruction in Community Colleges

• In Event: 18.034 - Student Success in Different Contexts: The Roles of Pedagogy, Data, and Instructors

Abstract

This mixed methods study investigates the usefulness of high school transcript data for improving assessment and placement in community college math courses, along with faculty perspectives about these data and their usefulness for teaching. We first use linked high school and college records from a large metropolitan area in California and quantitative methods to examine how variables from high school transcripts and math diagnostic tests are associated with access to and success in community college math courses. Given that high school records may hold valuable information about student readiness, we then use qualitative methods to understand how math faculty might use these data for tailoring classroom instruction and supporting students in developmental math.

Authors

• Tatiana Melguizo, University of Southern California

• Federick Ngo, University of Nevada - Las Vegas