![\"Biden](\"https:\/\/sites.austincc.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/81\/2015\/03\/Biden-Horizontal1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDr. Biden and Dr. Mitchell observe ACCelerator math demonstration<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Austin Community College welcomed second lady Dr. Jill Biden and Under Secretary of Education Dr. Ted Mitchell on Monday, March 9, to tour the Highland Campus\u2019 ACCelerator and meet with students and faculty of the college\u2019s new developmental math course, MATD 0421.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got shivers when I walked in (the ACCelerator),\u201d says Dr. Biden. \u201cI hope other community colleges come and see this and then adopt it on their own campuses.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ACCelerator and MATD 0421 have gained national attention for its groundbreaking success in closing educational gaps.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nDr. Biden and Dr. Mitchell engage in roundtable with ACCelerator math faculty and students<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cI teach a lot of developmental students,\u201d says Dr. Biden. \u201cThe one stumbling block does seem to be math and math anxiety and \u2018Can I do it?\u2019. This (course) seems to be so empowering and so positive. Students can see immediate success.\u201d<\/p>\n
MATD 0421 was the first course in the massive, 600+ computer station learning lab. The course, a combination of three developmental math classes, uses artificial intelligence to customize lessons for each student.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes the anxiety out,\u201d says ACC student Jennifer Bradgon. \u201cI never considered myself a \u2018math person\u2019 until this class. It\u2019s shifting my entire outlook. Now I want to become a math teacher. I know I can help other students overcome their own struggles and find success.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nACCelerator at Highland Campus<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
In MATD 0421\u2019s inaugural semester:
\n\u2022 The withdrawal rate was less than half the rate for traditional developmental math courses.
\n\u2022 75 percent of the students completed the equivalent of one traditional course.
\n\u2022 Nearly 45 percent completed the equivalent to a course and one-half.
\n\u2022 Over 14 percent completed the equivalent to two courses.
\n\u2022 13 students completed all the equivalent of three courses.<\/p>\n
This semester over 1,000 students enrolled in MATD 0421, including 691 new students and 334 returning students.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a remarkable example of success,\u201d says Under Secretary Mitchell. \u201cStudents are sticking with it. (Other colleges need to try) that type of experimentation. Try things and see if it works.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on ACCelerator and MATD 0421 visit austincc.edu\/accelerator<\/a>.<\/p>\n View video from the visit:<\/p>\n