New Report Finds Pearson's Math Programs Help Colleges and Universities Control Costs, Increase Student Gains
Institutions Achieve Success using National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) Course Redesign Method Combined with Pearson's Innovative Math Programs
Boston (PRWEB) April 30, 2009 --Facing tight budgets, rising enrollments and increased demand for financial aid, higher education administrators across the country are looking for ways to control operating costs without sacrificing academic quality. Indeed, a recent national survey of community college leaders underscores the pressures facing higher education, including an increase in the number of students enrolling in workforce development programs due to the shaky economy.
According to a new report, many colleges and universities are overcoming these challenges using innovative technology. The report, Cost-Effective Strategies for Improving Student Performance: Redesign + MyMathLab in Higher Education Mathematics Courses, finds that institutions that combine the National Center for Academic Transformation's (NCAT) course redesign method with one of Pearson's innovative online math programs were able to reduce their costs per student while increasing student gains.
Cost-Effective Strategies for Improving Student Performance highlights eight schools in narrative case studies, and an additional 14 schools in data-driven charts, to illustrate how course redesign combined with Pearson's MyMathLab, MathXL or MyStatLab programs support and improve large, introductory math classes. The report contains links to the NCAT website with full details about each school's implementation. Each school submitted its own data.
"For these tough economic times, Pearson's MyMathLab is a proven and innovative solution that lowers per student costs and improves student performance. It is our priority to offer value choices to students that address higher education affordability and help students gain the skills to succeed in an increasingly competitive world," said Will Ethridge, CEO of Pearson's North American education businesses.
Pearson's MyMathLab, MathXL and MyStatLab are self-paced, online learning solutions that can be customized to suit each student's level of knowledge and can be used in any environment--lab-based, hybrid, distance learning or traditional classroom. Since 2001, more than 1,850 higher education institutions have used one of Pearson's math programs and achieved positive results in the form of increased pass rates, increased retention rates, increased levels of student success in subsequent courses and increased achievement by underserved populations.
"MyMathLab has been a major factor in the success of our program," says John Squires, math department chair at Cleveland State Community College and the 2009 recipient of the prestigious Instructional Programs and Services Bellwether Award from the Community College Futures Assembly. "We use 100 percent online homework and grading, which gives the students instant feedback and frees the instructors to spend their time helping students."
Cost savings take four possible forms: actual dollar savings, newly available faculty time, the capacity to serve more students, and a decline in faculty workload for the course. Money saved through the course redesign plus MyMathLab model is retained in the department and is used for continued course improvement or redesign of other courses, allowing the institution to serve more students, create a greater range of upper-division offerings and offer distance-learning sections, and provide training for part-time faculty.
Schools profiled in the report include Austin Peay State University, Cleveland State Community College, Hagerstown Community College, Jackson State University, Louisiana State University, Niagara County Community College, University of Central Florida, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and many others.
Since 1999, NCAT's course redesign programs have proven that through more effective use of information technology, it is possible to produce better learning outcomes at reduced cost. NCAT's initial program, Program in Course Redesign, resulted in 25 of the 30 course redesign projects showing significant increases in student learning, with all 30 projects reducing their costs by an average of 37 percent--a collective annual savings of approximately $3 million.
To request access to the report, email Communications@pearsoned.com. For more information about Pearson's math programs, visit www.mymathlab.com.
About The National Center for Academic Transformation -- The National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides leadership in using information technology to redesign learning environments to produce better learning outcomes for students at a reduced cost to the institution. NCAT is headed by Dr. Carol A. Twigg, an internationally recognized expert in the field. The NCAT staff has extensive experience in higher education as faculty members, administrators and researchers in both traditional and non-traditional higher education environments. NCAT is the only resource recognized for translating its vision for achieving improved learning outcomes at a reduced cost into a proven track record of success. NCAT furthers its mission of creating lasting change in higher education through a number of initiatives designed to provide research-based solutions, expertise and support to educational systems interested in improving quality, increasing access, and using resources more effectively. http://www.thencat.org.
About Pearson -- Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today's digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company's investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company's respected brands include eCollege, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, MyLabs, and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson's commitment to education for all is supported by the global philanthropic initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go to www.pearson.com.
Contact:
Susan Aspey
(347) 421-2473
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