# CSIS 1 Summer 2026 — Research-Backed Implementation Plan Source: `projects/gav-outreach/research/student-success-proposal.md` (Ranks 1–9) This plan applies the top 9 evidence-based practices to CSIS 1, a 6-week compressed summer course. The course is fully online, asynchronous, with Monday evening Zoom demos. --- ## Practice → CSIS 1 Application Map ### Rank 1: Structured Weekly Modules with Consistent Layout **Evidence:** DFW dropped 48% → 24% with consistent module structure. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** Every week follows the exact same sequence: 1. **Welcome Announcement** (Monday morning) — what's this week about, what to do first 2. **Learning Objectives** — 3–5 measurable outcomes per week 3. **Readings** — OpenStax chapters + supplementary links (already in syllabus) 4. **Monday Demo Recording** — posted Tuesday if students miss live session 5. **Practice Quiz** (low-stakes, 10 questions, unlimited attempts) 6. **Discussion** — one prompt per week, metacognitive where possible 7. **Real-World Task** — hands-on assignment due Sunday 11:59 PM 8. **Weekly Check-In Quiz** (graded, 10 questions, 2 attempts) 9. **Friday Wrap-Up Announcement** — what went well, common mistakes, preview of next week Module prerequisites: must complete Week N quiz before Week N+1 unlocks. --- ### Rank 2: Frequent Low-Stakes Quizzing (Retrieval Practice) **Evidence:** Meta-analysis d=0.42–0.51 effect size. Quiz submission rate predicts lower DFW. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - **Practice Quiz** (per week): 10 questions, unlimited attempts, not graded (or 5% total). Purpose: retrieval practice before graded quiz. - **Weekly Check-In Quiz** (per week): 10 questions, 2 attempts, graded. Mix of factual recall and applied scenarios. - **Final Exam**: 30 questions drawn from a bank of 60+ (all weekly questions reshuffled + new synthesis questions). - Questions drawn from OpenStax chapter content, GCFGlobal modules, and the imported Summer 2025 course quiz bank. - Target: students encounter 20+ quiz questions per week across practice + graded. **Quiz Design Principles:** - Mix question types: factual recall (30%), applied scenarios (40%), "which of these is the best practice" (30%) - Include "all of the above" and "none of the above" sparingly - Write wrong answers that are plausible (common misconceptions), not absurd - For security/scam questions: use real-world scenarios --- ### Rank 3: Regular Announcements (2–3 per Week) **Evidence:** Optimal frequency 2–3/week. Beyond 3/week shows diminishing returns. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** 3 announcements per week, consistent schedule: - **Monday AM: "This Week in CSIS 1"** — overview, objectives, what to do first, Zoom demo reminder - **Wednesday: Mid-Week Check-In** — tips, common questions from Canvas inbox, encouragement, "here's what I'm seeing so far" - **Friday: Week Wrap-Up** — what to finish by Sunday, common mistakes on the quiz, preview of next week Plus situational announcements: assignment clarifications, demo recording posted, grade updates. **Tone:** Conversational, not corporate. Short paragraphs. Direct. Peter's voice. --- ### Rank 4: Transparent Gradebook with Visible Rubrics **Evidence:** Gradebook use correlated with lower DFW (F=7.7, p=0.005). **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - Rubrics attached and visible on every Real-World Task assignment - Simple 4-level rubrics: Excellent / Good / Needs Work / Missing - Criteria categories: Completeness, Accuracy, Formatting/Presentation, Critical Thinking - Gradebook updated within 48 hours of due date (see Rank 5) - Grade breakdown visible in syllabus: Quizzes 30%, Discussions 15%, Real-World Tasks 30%, Final 20%, Participation/Practice 5% --- ### Rank 5: Prompt Feedback Turnaround (≤48h Communication, ≤7 Days Grading) **Evidence:** Slow grading is consistently cited as a withdrawal driver. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - Canvas messages answered within 24 hours (weekdays), 48 hours (weekends) - Weekly quizzes auto-graded immediately - Discussion posts graded within 3 days - Real-World Tasks graded within 5 days (before next week's task is due) - Stated in syllabus as a commitment, not just a goal --- ### Rank 6: Embedded Metacognitive Prompts **Evidence:** +6.1 and +4.2 points on successive exams. Explains 25.3% of variance in final exam scores. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** Metacognition woven into discussions and assignments: - **Week 1 Discussion:** "What does being 'digitally literate' mean to you? What do you already know vs. what feels unfamiliar?" (self-assessment) - **Week 2 Discussion:** "What was hardest about the document/spreadsheet work this week? What strategy did you use to figure it out?" (process reflection) - **Week 3 Discussion:** "Look at your quiz scores so far. What topics do you feel confident about? What do you need to review?" (self-monitoring) - **Week 4 Discussion:** "How do you decide if a website is trustworthy? Walk us through your actual process." (metacognitive modeling) - **Week 5 Discussion:** "After the security audit, what surprised you most about your own digital habits? What will you change?" (transfer) - **Week 6 Discussion:** "You just used an AI tool. How did you decide what to trust and what to verify? What would you do differently next time?" (critical evaluation) Every Real-World Task includes a short reflection paragraph: "What was the hardest part? What would you do differently?" --- ### Rank 7: Proactive Early Alert Outreach **Evidence:** RCT: +0.33 GPA, 80% higher persistence. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - After Week 1: personal Canvas message to anyone who hasn't submitted the quiz or discussion - After Week 2: message to anyone with <60% quiz average — offer help, Zoom office hours - After Week 3 (midpoint): mid-course check-in to entire class; personal outreach to anyone missing 2+ assignments - Template messages drafted in advance, personalized with name and specific missing items - Tone: "I noticed you haven't turned in X yet — I want to make sure you're okay. Can I help?" --- ### Rank 8: Authentic Engagement Over Performative Discussion Boards **Evidence:** "Post once, reply twice" universally despised. Instructor must participate visibly. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - NO "post once, reply twice" requirement - Instead: "Post your response (150–250 words). Then read at least 2 classmates' posts and leave a meaningful comment — ask a question, share a related experience, or respectfully disagree." - Instructor (Peter) replies to 3–5 posts per discussion with substantive comments - Prompts designed to invite genuine sharing, not regurgitation (see metacognitive prompts above) - Some discussions are scenario-based: "Your grandmother calls and says Microsoft told her to buy gift cards. What do you say?" - Grading: Complete/Incomplete based on effort and substance, not word count --- ### Rank 9: Multimedia Integration with Chunked Content **Evidence:** Chunked content with interactive elements: DFW 16% → 7% in developmental math. **CSIS 1 Implementation:** - Monday demo recordings chunked into segments (≤15 min each) with chapter markers - Reading assignments broken into specific sections (not "read chapters 1–2" but specific URLs to sections) - GCFGlobal tutorials used as interactive supplements (they're already chunked and interactive) - Code.org video series (Week 4) is 6 short videos — naturally chunked - Each module page lists content in order with time estimates: "📖 Reading (~30 min) → 🎥 Video (~15 min) → ✅ Practice Quiz (~10 min)" --- ## Deliverables to Build | Deliverable | Agent | Output Location | |-------------|-------|-----------------| | Weekly quiz questions (practice + graded, 6 weeks × 20 Qs) | Agent 1: Quiz Writer | `projects/csis1/content/quizzes/` | | Weekly announcements (3 per week × 6 weeks = 18) | Agent 2: Announcement Writer | `projects/csis1/content/announcements/` | | Discussion prompts with rubrics (6 weeks) | Agent 3: Discussion Writer | `projects/csis1/content/discussions/` | | Early alert message templates | Charlie (inline) | `projects/csis1/content/early-alerts.md` | | Assignment rubrics (6 Real-World Tasks) | Agent 3 (or Charlie) | `projects/csis1/content/rubrics/` | --- ## Grade Breakdown | Category | Weight | Items | |----------|--------|-------| | Weekly Check-In Quizzes (graded) | 30% | 6 quizzes, drop lowest | | Discussions | 15% | 6 discussions, complete/incomplete | | Real-World Tasks | 30% | 6 assignments with rubrics | | Final Exam | 20% | 30 questions from bank | | Practice Quizzes + Participation | 5% | Completion credit | --- ## Module Template (Every Week) ``` Module N: [Topic] (Date Range) 📋 Learning Objectives - Students will be able to... - Students will be able to... - Students will be able to... 📖 Readings & Resources - [OpenStax chapter link] - [Supplementary resource] - Estimated time: X minutes 🎥 Monday Demo - Recording link (posted Tuesday) - Segments: [topic 1] (0:00–12:00), [topic 2] (12:00–25:00) ✅ Practice Quiz (unlimited attempts) - 10 questions, not graded - Purpose: check your understanding before the real quiz 💬 Discussion - [Prompt] - Due: Wednesday 11:59 PM (post) / Friday 11:59 PM (replies) 🛠 Real-World Task - [Assignment description] - Rubric attached - Due: Sunday 11:59 PM 📝 Weekly Check-In Quiz (2 attempts) - 10 questions, graded - Covers this week's readings + demo - Due: Sunday 11:59 PM ```