MyITLab Funding of MyITLab was not a problem. In Canada ...

MyITLab ?

Case Study

Computer Applications (CAPL 1199)

Credit Hours 1 Course Basic Course Information Submitted by Andr? Roy Co-ordinator, Instructional Technology & Computer Applications School of Academic & Liberal Studies, Niagara College

"I believe that MyITLab can be a very useful tool in enhancing the students' learning process. Not only do all of our students engage with the course material, but they." also learn how to pace their own study time effectively."

C o u rs e s :

MyITLab was instrumental in a Course Redesign at Niagara College. CAPL1199 is a foundational computer application course for 3000 students who must demonstrate computer proficiency skills to meet government regulations. Prior to the redesign, students were allowed to take a "test out" option. The result was a reduction in both the teachers' load and the number of computer labs needed but produced no end of scheduling challenges. Even though many students placed out, some would have benefited from the computer course review. Those students who didn't test out were required to take the two semester course.

With MyITLab, we were able to eliminate the "test out" option, double the class size, compress the timeline and require ALL students to engage with the material.

A ss e ss m e n t :

Marks for each course are comprised of:

? 10% for PowerPoint

? 40% for Word

? 50% for Excel

I m p l e m e n tat i o n :

MyITLab has effectively replaced a two semester, traditional delivery offering into a one semester, selfpaced, blended delivery course for students. The same material, PowerPoint, Word and Excel is still covered and the students need only take the three exams to demonstrate proficiency. In this manner, students who have some prior knowledge of these programs can advance more quickly through the material, but still benefit from learning more advanced features they might not have otherwise known.

Prior to the redesign, we had 30 students per class. With MyITLab doing the teaching and grading, the teacher's role has shifted more to that of a coach. This allowed us to double class or lab size up to 60 students. Teachers are available and staff the labs weekly. Students can work on MyITLab in campus labs or on their own computers. As an application course, students must work through the material and then take the end unit exams.

MyITLab

Raising the Bar: A Compendium of Case Studies on the Effectiveness of MyLab and Mastering from Pearson

Funding of MyITLab was not a problem. In Canada, all material fees must result in a tangible product the student can keep. To meet this demand, we offered students an eBook which is theirs forever. The student pays for the eBook and, with the money saved by decreasing the course length and doubling the class size, the college purchases the access codes. An added bonus is that we've also freed up more lab time for other courses.

Tr e n d s :

We are pleased with the results since implementing the course redesign. In addition to the significant savings that come from doubling class size and compressing the timeline, we feel the student learning is enhanced for two reasons. Firstly, there is no chance for a student to "opt out" via the test out option. Now, all students review all course material, which has significant benefits to their future courses and their professional careers. Secondly, we are seeing a trend of about 3-5% increase in overall test scores. Initially, students seem to struggle in the first unit. This is because many of the students are new to monitoring their own schedules. The concept of a "deadline" acts as a wakeup call. This is why we've positioned the easiest part of the course, PowerPoint, worth the fewest points, first in the lineup. But after this initial learning curve, students tell us they enjoy setting their own speed in the course.

MyITLab also offers us greater flexibility and choice in course material. Prior to the redesign, we had one physical textbook. Now, we can generate assignments and exams from numerous books contained within MyITLab. If we want to grow a course, for example, we easily have that ability.

Conclusion:

Overall, our new course structure is leagues better than the traditional method. Fewer students are dropping out. The redesigned course is more fun for teachers, as they are not required to give traditional lectures. They have more time for one-on-one interaction with students because the program does all of the marking. I believe that MyITLab can be a very useful tool in enhancing the students' learning process. Not only do all of our students engage with the course material, but they also learn how to pace their own study time effectively.

MyITLab



MyITLab ?

Case Study

Introduction to Business Computing

Credit Hours Basic Course Information Submitted by Maurie Lockley, Lecturer of Information System and Operation Management

MyITLab

"I am extremely confident about the reliability of MyITLab. I know that when students call me with problems, the problems are not with the program. This poduct works."

MyLab Implementation

For each chapter, students are required to take three or four simulation quizzes and a 15- to 20-question multiplechoice quiz on concept material; for each unit, they complete an application-based, hands-on project. Students do all work on their personal computers.

MyITLab Instructor Benefits

Teaching over 1200 students a year, MyITLab permits Maurie Lockley and her colleague to serve a large number of students without diminishing academic rigor, student service, or success. "MyITLab helps me reduce the amount of instructor-graded homework without reducing the level of student achievement," she says. "Before MyITLab, I could assign only two or three exercises per chapter because the exercises needed to be hand scored. Now I can assign more exercises and ensure that students get the practice they need." Lockley also notes that in a semester, "Instructors who use MyITLab can cover more ground. Students actually master more skills in our courses now than they did before we required MyITLab."

Lockley appreciates that MyITLab helps her stay connected to her students. "My favorite feature is Identify Inactive Students," she says. "In 30 seconds, I can discover what's happening with my entire class. Sometimes I reach out to inactive students, and they respond with, `It's OK, I worked ahead and finished it all.' Other times, they really are in trouble. And that 30-second time investment is all it takes to let them know I care and to keep them on track before they get too far behind to recover."

In Lockley's course, students may submit their projects an unlimited number of times until they achieve the grade desired. Some students submit a project again and again until they achieve perfection. Before MyITLab, "Even if a student wanted to learn from their mistakes and resubmit an assignment, we did not have sufficient resources to permit resubmissions. In the old system, scarce resources trumped good pedagogy--our resources are now even more scarce and MyITLab grows in importance."

MyITLab Student Benefits

Students like using MyITLab. For nontraditional students-- those who are returning to school, are already working, or are otherwise balancing schoolwork and personal obligations--MyITLab offers the means to study whenever and wherever they want. "My students' favorite feature is probably Save for Later," says Lockley. "They can work on assignments around their own schedule. This is particularly helpful for my distance and adult learners." Lockley has noticed another change since using MyITLab: her students read and use their books more than before. She notes, "I am seeing dirty books for the first time in my career: stuff is written in the margins, etc."

Raising the Bar: A Compendium of Case Studies on the Effectiveness of MyLab and Mastering from Pearson

"MyITLab is so broad and rich that all who employ it can teach in their own way."

Students come to UNCG from around the world; at least 15 percent of each of Lockley's classes consists of nonnative English speakers. "The multimedia aspect is a huge help," she says. "The international students frequently

bring headphones to class so they can utilize the sound capabilities. And when I go into the usage logs, I see that they also use the optional, audio-narrated PowerPoint demonstrations. Again, the narrated Power- Point demonstrations take me 30 seconds to make available--but it's 30 seconds that can tremendously impact students' lives and their odds of a job in the future."

R e s u lt s

Lockley also teaches the sophomore-level advanced Excel and Access course (average enrollment: 80 students/ year) and has found an incredible improvement in the drop/ fail/withdraw (DFW) rate. Lockley says, "Before implementing MyITLab, I had a DFW rate of about 50 percent. Now, not only is the DFW rate less than 20 percent, but the mean scores are in the mid 80s. I attribute the change to the fact that the students used MyITLab in their previous course, and their foundation skills are stronger."

Conclusion

Lockley believes that MyITLab makes a difference in careers as well as classrooms. "More and more, students say to me, `In my job interview I was tested on something that looked just like MyITLab. If I hadn't worked in MyITLab, there's no way I could have passed the test,'" says Lockley. From a technology standpoint, MyITLab covers all bases. "I have laptops in my section running all types of operating systems: Vista, Windows, XP," she says. "But MyITLab is flexible enough to handle it--every system, in on-campus and distance courses, undergraduate and graduate levels." Lockley says that that kind of flexibility is one of the many reasons for MyITLab's popularity. "The last generation of online courseware was so narrowly focused that the program dictated course delivery," she says. "MyITLab is so broad and rich that all who employ it can teach in their own way. In my work as a Faculty Advisor helping other schools set up their programs, I see that everybody uses MyITLab differently; everybody does it in a way that works best for their population, and MyITLab helps all of them achieve success."

MyITLab



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