Roger Wolf, Dean
855 N. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90029
213-669-4000,
wolfrw@lacitycollege.edu
Description:
The practice is designed to increase the success of math and science
students and to increase the completion rates of all students at Los
Angeles City College. The practice is particularly beneficial to
women in math and science. The Pi Shop and Byte Shop are located in
two computer labs that are set up to facilitate collaboration and
group projects. The Pi shop focuses on supporting students
encountering difficulties with math, and the Byte shop provides
support in computer science. Students learn of the pi and byte shops
via word-of-mouth and classroom announcements.
The program is marketed to other faculty who are encouraged to send
students who may be experiencing difficulties. The shops are very
popular with students and many spend time there completing work in
addition to receiving assistance. The shops serve as a support
network for these students. They can play an important role in
supporting female students experiencing difficulties in math and
technical areas.
The shops are staffed by a full-time coordinator and part-time
student tutors. The centers contain computers, tables, and employ a
tracking system via a log-in and log-out system to monitor student
use. The tracking system shows that the skills of students who
participate with the Pi Shop or Byte Shop increase to a level that
is higher than average in math and science. The cost of the programs
is paid by student contact hours and a National Science foundation
district grant.