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Interactive Course Materials Associated with Student Outcomes Boost at Kennesaw State

student sitting on the floor with a laptop, doing homework

Kennesaw State University has seen a 48 percent reduction the DFWI (D, fail, withdraw, incomplete) rate in one of its core curriculum courses following a move to interactive courseware.

After the institution replaced its Foundations for Healthy Living course's traditional textbooks with a web-based learning platform from Perceivant, the DFWI rate dropped from 25 percent to 13 percent over a two-year period across all course delivery methods (including online, classroom and hybrid). The online section of the course saw an even bigger drop: from a DFWI rate of 35 percent to just 16 percent (a 55 percent reduction).

The Perceivant platform delivers course materials digitally, using self assessments, discussion assignments, labs and more to create an interactive learning experience, according to the company. Instructors can incorporate customized content such as assignments and extra credit, and access analytics on student progress.

The university worked with Perceivant to provide feedback, make changes to the platform and revise the course to fit students' needs. "By working together, Perceivant and KSU were able to provide students with a more tailored learning experience designed to increase engagement each year," the company said in a news announcement.

"One of the biggest challenges facing many core curriculum classes is high DWFI rates, allowing students to fall behind in these early courses while simultaneously jeopardizing their college careers," commented Kandice Porter, chair of the Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education at KSU's WellStar College of Health and Human Services, in a statement. "By working with Perceivant, we were able to make the course more relevant and meaningful while also aligning it with the university's general education goals."

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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