Teaching Calculus and Other Challenging Courses to Nontraditional and at-Risk Students at A Research University

Abstract

Abstract. This article describes a program of demanding courses offered in an academic community to nontraditional and at-risk, first- and second-year students at a research university. The delivery of instruction uses multiple pedagogies, including collaborative learning and labs where students work together under the guidance of undergraduate assistants. A research study showed that students in the program perform better than traditional students in equivalent courses. In addition, this study provides strong evidence that when students of the program take the same subsequent classes offered to the general university population, their success rates match or exceed those of their traditional classmates.

Keywords:

• at-risk students
• calculus
• laboratory
• McNeill Program