District presents Habits for Success dual-enrollment orientation pilot; board to require course for college English
March 11, 2024 | Allegany County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland
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Doctor Caldwell presented the Habits for Success College Orientation pilot to the board March 11, describing a collaborative program with Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) faculty and district dual-enrollment teachers designed to prepare students for the rigor of college English.
The pilot began in fall 2024 with 98 students enrolled. According to the presentation, 18 students withdrew during the pilot and 80 students earned one elective college credit for the Habits for Success orientation while concurrently earning college English credit. The orientation covered note taking, organizational skills, test preparation, stress-management techniques and navigation of the Brightspace learning-management system; ACM faculty taught the online orientation sessions while college-English instructors were available for support.
Doctor Caldwell said the district plans to require the orientation for students taking college English so that students will not be permitted to enroll in college English without first taking the orientation. The district also plans a more detailed analysis of academic outcomes to determine whether the orientation correlates with improved performance in early college courses.
Board members praised the collaboration with ACM and asked about early results. "Little too early yet to see that," Caldwell said about outcome correlations, but he pledged to report back after analysis. The presentation included student reflections that identified note taking, test-taking strategies, time management and stress management as the most beneficial elements.
The board did not take formal action on the pilot at this meeting; staff reported the intent to refine the syllabus and to consider making the orientation a required component of the dual-enrollment pathway.
Next steps: district staff will analyze pilot outcomes, propose any syllabus revisions for fall, and return to the board with recommended changes and an implementation plan if the board endorses the requirement.
The pilot began in fall 2024 with 98 students enrolled. According to the presentation, 18 students withdrew during the pilot and 80 students earned one elective college credit for the Habits for Success orientation while concurrently earning college English credit. The orientation covered note taking, organizational skills, test preparation, stress-management techniques and navigation of the Brightspace learning-management system; ACM faculty taught the online orientation sessions while college-English instructors were available for support.
Doctor Caldwell said the district plans to require the orientation for students taking college English so that students will not be permitted to enroll in college English without first taking the orientation. The district also plans a more detailed analysis of academic outcomes to determine whether the orientation correlates with improved performance in early college courses.
Board members praised the collaboration with ACM and asked about early results. "Little too early yet to see that," Caldwell said about outcome correlations, but he pledged to report back after analysis. The presentation included student reflections that identified note taking, test-taking strategies, time management and stress management as the most beneficial elements.
The board did not take formal action on the pilot at this meeting; staff reported the intent to refine the syllabus and to consider making the orientation a required component of the dual-enrollment pathway.
Next steps: district staff will analyze pilot outcomes, propose any syllabus revisions for fall, and return to the board with recommended changes and an implementation plan if the board endorses the requirement.
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