Quantitative Reasoning | UT Dana Center

Grounding through

Contextualized mathematics

Focusing on

Collaborative pedagogy

Leveraging

Embedded student success strategies

The Dana Center Mathematics Pathways (DCMP) Quantitative Reasoning (QR) course is a college-level course designed for students who are focused on developing quantitative reasoning skills meaningful to their professional, civic, and personal lives. Optional corequisite support materials are available and are aligned with each of the activities of the QR course.

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Quantitative reasoning is a habit of mind—seeking pattern and order when faced with unfamiliar contexts. This course uses collaborative learning techniques to help students recognize the need for data-driven decision making, and brings to light the dangers inherent in basing decisions solely on anecdotal evidence.

Mathematical concepts in Quantitative Reasoning include:

Numeracy
Mathematical modeling
Basic statistical reasoning
Analysis of complex information using graphical strategies

QR is recommended as a three-credit course, and is commonly used to support liberal arts and humanities programs.

Explore Quantitative Reasoning Materials

Table of Contents

Learning Outcomes

The in-class activities, instructor resources, and accompanying homework are openly available for use by any instructor.

Online Homework Platform

The Dana Center has partnered with Lumen Learning to provide faculty and students with an optional online homework platform. To learn more about using the Dana Center’s courses on Lumen Learning's Online Homework Manager (OHM), fill out this form.

It changed my whole mindset.

Adam Al-Masri from Wright State University talks about his experience in the DCMP Quantitative Reasoning course.

Course Information and FAQ

Institutions use these materials in many different ways to support student achievement in the quantitive reasoning pathway. To meet your institution’s placement policies and serve your students at their preparation level, several implementation options are available.

College-Ready/Bubble Students

College-ready and bubble students (those who place close to the cut-off for college-readiness) take the college-level Quantitative Reasoning course. Research shows that students near the cut-off for being deemed college-ready are as likely to pass a college-level course with a B or higher as those who place directly into the college-level course. The preview assignments that are part of the QR course are designed to refresh students in the foundational skills required to fully engage in each class meeting.
Unprepared Students Option 1
Students who place in Beginning Algebra or above can take Quantitative Reasoning paired with the DCMP QR corequisite support course.

Quantitative Reasoning + Corequisite Supports can be offered as either a co-mingled or a cohorted course.
- Co-mingled: The QR parent course contains a mix of college-ready and underprepared students. The underprepared students meet for additional contact hours to complete the corequisite work.
- Cohorted: Specific sections of QR meet for extended hours and are designated solely for underprepared students.
In the corequisite course meetings, underprepared students work collaboratively on the foundational skills needed to engage in upcoming QR class meetings. This work prepares them to complete the Quantitative Reasoning preview assignments individually at home. Click here to see a sample calendar.
Unprepared Students Option 2

Students who place below Beginning Algebra level may still need two semesters to complete their college math requirement. We recommend one semester in the Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning course followed by a semester in the Quantitative Reasoning course.

Students in this model may or may not need the support course during the QR semester. Consider letting the students choose whether to enroll in the additional supports.

Alternately, the two courses can be compressed into one semester by meeting six or seven hours per week.
Very Underprepared Students

Students who place at the Arithmetic or Adult Basic Education level may need additional supports when taking the Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning course. We offer a paired DCMP Foundations of Mathematical Reasoning corequisite support course. We recommend seven contact hours with this model. In the second semester, successful students move on to Quantitative Reasoning with a paired DCMP QR corequisite course (recommended six contact hours).

While this model requires a significant number of contact hours, it reduces the number of semesters needed to reach and complete the college-level course and provides increased supports in a just-in-time manner.

(Students) end up taking over and doing their own thing and there are some times where you are almost in the way… They start taking chances… By the end of the semester, you hand something to them, and they know it’s going to be hard, but they still just start trying.

Rich Geist
Angelina College