Commentary: Baseline Proficiencies

 

            The baseline proficiencies set a common floor for a course, across sections.   More than anything, they require students who aren’t doing well in the courses to rise to a certain level in order to pass.  In general, about three-quarters of the class passes fairly easily, but the baseline proficiencies force the remaining quarter or so to move past their self-imposed limitations and work to understand the concepts and demonstrate that understanding.  Although the proficiencies are quite anxiety producing at first, once students start checking them off, they are almost always proud of themselves.  I’ve never had a student fail a class by failing proficiencies.  Often students who struggle with the proficiencies have learning disabilities, and the proficiencies force them to get appropriate help with the course.  Many students who struggle find it easier to take an oral quiz than a written one. 

            The proficiencies can be a lot of work for the faculty, which is why we streamlined them in 2004-5, when we made Math 130 specifically for future teachers. 

            The standards of some proficiencies are on the low side.  We’ve used them mostly as a minimum; a student who doesn’t go beyond them will not get a good grade in the course.  7/05

 

                                                       

 

 

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