The HHMI-funded Data Analysis course is conducted as the second half of the Kenyon Excellence in Education Program (KEEP), a six-week residential program designed to facilitate the transition to college life for first-generation college students starting at Kenyon.  Developed based on Kenyon's earlier program Science-Math Workshop, the three weeks of Data Analysis follow three weeks of an intensive Writing Program. Through this program, entering students experience the college environment and college-level academics, including demanding assignments and exams. By the end, students are more confident about enrolling in college and are better prepared to meet future challenges. Students also learn about further support available for success in academic work, including the Math Science Skills Center funded by our HHMI 2004 award.

Kenyon professor Rob Onyenwoke (left) instructs students in the KEEP data analysis course.
About KEEP

The main goal of the HHMI-supported data analysis course is to acclimate students to the rigors of college-level academics, particularly in math and sciences. All classes are taught by Kenyon science professors. In the 2007 course, students undertook inquiry-based classes in microbiology (taught by Rob Onyenwoke) and medicinal chemistry (taught by Simon Garcia).  Daily sessions on algebra and trigonometry were provided by Bob Milnikel, and statistics was taught by Brad Hartlaub. Physics sessions were taught by Paula Turner.

During the three-week course, students are responsible for completing daily reading assignments, problem sets, and weekly exams. They work with their own data and with datasets from on-line laboratories, including interactive virtual labs such as the Virtual Ames Test. At the end of the course, student complete a comprehensive assessment survey. The 2007 survey was conducted and analyzed by Garcia and Milnikel.

Data Analysis INDS 99 Course Outline

 Assessment Survey Results

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