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Team-Based Inquiry Learning in College Algebra and Precalculus

Abby Noble, Tonya DeGeorge, Kathy Pinzon

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Who We Are

Kathy Pinzon, Ph.D. �Math Teacher�Gwinnett County Public Schools (GA)�kathy.pinzon@gcpsk12.org

Abby Noble, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Mathematics�Department of Mathematics & Statistics�Middle Georgia State University�abby.noble@mga.edu

Tonya DeGeorge, Ph.D. �Math Teacher�Gwinnett County Public Schools (GA)�tonya.degeorge@gcpsk12.org

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What is TBIL?

Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) can be characterized by the following four pillars:

1️⃣ Students engage deeply with meaningful tasks.

2️⃣ Students collaborate to build understanding.

3️⃣ Instructors inquire into student thinking.

4️⃣ Instructors foster equity in their design and facilitation choices.

Team-Based Learning (TBL) consists of four elements:

1️⃣ The teams are permanent and selected by the instructor;

2️⃣ Students are held accountable through a Readiness Assurance Process;

3️⃣ Students receive frequent and immediate feedback;

4️⃣During the majority of class sessions, teams work collaboratively on activities.

💡 Want to learn more? Check out tbil.org

Broadly, the goal of Team-Based Inquiry Learning (TBIL) is to merge the structured approach of TBL with the inquiry-based focus of IBL.

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Readiness Assurance Process

At the start of a new unit, students are given preparatory materials to review previously learned concepts before coming to class. �

  1. Students complete the Readiness Assurance test individually (iRAT);
  2. Teams work together to complete the same Readiness Assurance test (tRAT);
  3. Discussion/Appeals process, if necessary;
  4. Conclude with mini-Lesson, if needed.

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Individual and Team Readiness Assurance Test

Virtual answer sheet available at https://scratchee.clontz.org/

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What Happens in a TBIL Class

During most class sessions, students work in teams on “Application Activities”.

First: Teams discuss/solve the problems within their group. The instructor circulates, facilitating intra-team discussions as necessary.

Second: Teams simultaneously report their response to the class.

Third: The instructor asks teams to explain their reasoning and facilitates classroom conversation.

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Team Folders

Letter cards A - F

True/False cards

Yes/No Cards

Whiteboard sheets

Markers

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TBIL Activities

TBIL Activities can be sorted into three categories:

1️⃣ Scaffolded exploration

New concepts are introduced; problems are scaffolded

2️⃣ Fluency builders

Opportunity for practice; similar to assessment questions

3️⃣ Flexible extension

Extending ideas in new directions

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Scaffolded Exploration (Example)

Activity 5.5.2 from the OER textbook Precalculus for Team-Based Inquiry Learning.

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Fluency Builder (Example)

Activity 1.1.9 from the OER textbook Precalculus for Team-Based Inquiry Learning.

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Flexible Extension (Example)

Activity 3.5.8 from the OER textbook Precalculus for Team-Based Inquiry Learning.

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What is CheckIt?

CheckIt (https://checkit.clontz.org/ ) provides free and open randomized exercises for practice and assessment. The problems are aligned to learning targets.

Students can use the platform to check their understanding.

Instructors can use the platform to provide problems for students, generate LaTeX or PDF assessments from a web browser, and export test banks suitable for use in some LMS systems (including Canvas, Moodle, D2L, and more to come!)

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How CheckIt Works

CheckIt generates problems aligned to specific learning targets (or course standards).

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Our Activity Book

  • Written using PreText and managed in GitHub.
  • Supported through Affordable Learning Georgia and NSF (Award #2011807).
  • Calculus 1, 2, and Linear Algebra also available at https://tbil.org/.

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MyOpenMath

Online course management and assessment system (www.myopenmath.com)

Algorithmically generated assessment to support the use of free, open textbooks.

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Check out these resources!

If you are interested in implementing TBIL into your classroom, head to https://tbil.org/ or use the QR code!

You can also join the TBIL slack community at http://chat.tbil.org/.

Link to these slides!