Architecture and Impact of an Open, Online, Remixable, and Multimedia-Rich Algebra 1 Course

The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE) has developed a comprehensive, multimedia-based Algebra 1 program, distributed openly on the Internet via Hippocampus as well as through its membership-supported National Repository of Online Courses (NROC). The design and features of the Algebra 1 program were guided the input of a nationwide community of algebra administrators, instructors, and students. The Algebra 1 course takes the OER remix concept to a new level by capitalizing on the multiple levels of asset granularity that make up a high-end, media-rich program. We believe that this new remix approach can better serve the diverse needs of a broad population of users.

In this presentation, we will give an overview of the architecture of the Algebra 1 course as well as a report on a series of research studies evaluating the learning outcomes and other impacts of various schools and districts that have piloted the course this year. The particular manner in which the course is being used varies substantially from institution to institution, including variation in the student body, the degree of pedagogical integration, and the degree of technical access and support. This variation is explicitly supported by the design of the Algebra 1 course and provides a unique opportunity to evaluate both the overall design of the course as well as the implied benefits that accrue due to the course's open and modular design.