System Analysis

Drake University
EDL 272
Alex Bollmeyer

PreCalculus Class
Changed

structure of class this

year
Change Initiative from EDL 271
Changed

Assessment Practice

Needed to change parts of my

system as well

Change Initiative
Changed

Assessment Structure

Previous

Quiz midway through chapter

Test at end of chapter
Assessed over multiple objectives
Current

Test over every objective

Roughly 80 tests throughout the year

Aim of the System

To

promote individualized student

learning that more accurately
assessed student learning.

Individualized learning
At own pace
Accountability
Graded equally over each objective
Allows for retakes
Allows students to focus on each
objective

Structure and boundaries

BellRingers

to start class

Individualized
Students

check assignment

Answer questions
Cover

new objective

Sequential
Student

work time

Over current or previous objectives

BellRingers
Essential question
on the front

Answer on the
back

BellRingers

Three questions per

objective

Two cards for each

problem

Structure and boundaries

BellRingers

to start class

Individualized
Students

check assignment

Answer questions
Changed this process during the system
analysis

Cover

new objective

Sequential
Student

work time

Over current or previous objectives

Mental Models
New

concept to students and parents

Hesitation, concerns
Feedback

Has been mostly positive

Student interactions
P/T Conferences

Data

Need more data to support

Surveys, questionnaires at end of year

Problems in the System

Tragedy

of the Commons

Having enough BellRingers and Tests

Behavior

grows better before

it grows worse
Students worked hard initially while
system was new
Once comfortable, became lazier

Problems in the System

Small

changes can produce big results

but the areas of highest leverage are
often the least obvious
Adding due dates

Left

unmanaged, parts of system

become selfish. Edward Deming
Students behaviors changed once
comfortable in system
I needed to continue to manage the
system

Problems in the System

The

easy way out usually leads

back in
Cause and effect are not closely
related in time and space
Using quick fixes
Not addressing root causes
Student motivation

Success

to the successful

Students retaking and gaining

confidence

Next Steps
Collect

Data

Both student scores and stakeholder

feedback
Infinite Campus
Surveys or questionnaires

Possibly

implement in other

classes
Modified for Algebra 1A/1B ?