beacon navigator vol iv issue 4 fall 2014
DESCRIPTION
Beacon College campus newsletter for fall 2014.TRANSCRIPT
If one wishes to assess critically contemporary culture, I
believe that there will be widespread agreement that words
like “milestone,” “historic,” and “defining moment” are quite
overused, sometimes to the level of cliché. In the
celebration of our Founders Day, these words, in their
truest sense, were apt descriptors.
Communities rarely, if ever, pause to commemorate the
work that is accomplished daily, the struggles that led to
goals achieved, or acknowledge and thank in a very public
way the contributions and leadership of those who divined that which needed to
be done to found a college. On Sunday, October 12th, the Beacon community
gathered together to engage in just such an endeavor. Much planning and many
hands went into the creation of an appropriate celebration of our history, our
values, and the people upon whose shoulders much of the early hard work was
thrust (see story on page 5).
Twenty-five years is a considerable run for any organization, although, admittedly,
we may be viewed in a higher education arena as something of an upstart. That
which has been most impressive to me in the early years of my presidency is just
how much has been accomplished by a relatively small community of devoted
educators and families. We have remained faithful to our core mission and, in so
doing, we have established traditions and cultural patterns that, with our resulting
student outcomes, others in the higher education community wish to emulate.
And so we thank our Founders, so designated on October 12th: Ms. Kim Baggett,
Mr. Sam Battaglia, Ms. Deborah Brodbeck, Dr. Dan Coleman, Mr. John D’Addario,
Dr. Ron Dowdy, Dr. Marsha Glines, Dr. John Good, Mr. Peter Hough, Ms. Pat
Latham, Mr. Peter Latham, Ms. Eileen Marinakis, Ms. Sylvia Neill, Dr. Terri Ross,
Ms. Kay Timmeny, Dr. Debora Townley, Ms. Dianna Wade, Dr. Richard O.
Williams, and Dr. Vincent Ziccolella. But as each of these remarkable people will
acknowledge in their own right, they represent all who have, by their presence and
the devotion to cause, shaped all that we recognize Beacon to be today.
Well and proudly done, Beacon College!
A Presidential Note:
Well and Proudly Done, Beacon College!
Beacon
Navigator F A L L 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
Know Your World and Its Challenges. Chart Your Course and Succeed.
Gain. Learn. Grow.
President George J. Hagerty
I N S I D E T H I S
I S S U E :
A Message
from the Board
Chair
2
American
Heart
Association
Award
2
Beacon “On
the Air” 4
Parent Helps in
Recruiting
Efforts
4
Occupational
Therapy at
Beacon
6
Faculty
Highlight 6
New Human
Services/
Psychology
Organization
7
NACAC
“Home Run” 9
Legal Issues in
Education 10
Beacon’s
Cutting-Edge
Math Tech
11
S P E C I A L
P O I N T S O F
I N T E R E S T :
Planning for the
Second QEP
Honoring Beacon’s
25 Year History
New Career
Development
Program
Campus Master
Plan
P A G E 2
The Annual Return to Beacon College
Two months have passed since the Beacon College campus once again celebrated the rite of passage of
return to school by eager students and energized Faculty and Staff. As reported by President George
Hagerty, fall enrollment numbers soared to a high never before seen. The College greeted new and returning
employees as well as first time and returning undergraduates. Beacon also enrolled transfer students, who by
now know that Beacon College offers its learners a unique opportunity to succeed, unlike any they previously
experienced.
To our student body, on behalf of the Beacon College Board of Trustees, I encourage each of you to make
the most of your experiences at Beacon. Stretch to reach achievements that you once thought to be
unattainable. Make new friends, learn from each other and join the multiple campus clubs and activities
which are as vital to your campus life and your personal growth as the formal
classes in which you are enrolled.
To our newly recruited Faculty and Staff, welcome to Beacon College. We
look forward to becoming acquainted with you. We trust that your tenure at
Beacon will be both challenging and rewarding. We are pleased that your
professional lives have brought you to our campus community. We eagerly
anticipate your contributions to the College’s curricular offerings and programs.
To our valued returning Faculty and Staff, the Board once again wishes to
express our appreciation and encouragement in your endeavors. Undoubtedly,
new demands are accompanied by new expectations. The Board Members are
well aware that more is being expected of you, as it is of us, and we are
confident that we together are equipped to step up to the challenges of a
growing and reinvigorated Beacon College.
Wishing each of you continued success during Academic Year 2014-2015,
Eileen Marinakis, Chair
Board of Trustees
Eileen Marinakis Board Chair
B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R
Congratulations to the Beacon College Community for being awarded the distinction of becoming a Gold Fit-
Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association. Beacon is among an elite group of awardees for this
important initiative. In order to achieve Gold status, Beacon fulfilled criteria such as offering employees
physical activity support, increasing healthy eating options at work and promoting a
wellness culture. Requirements for Gold level achievement include implementing
physical activity, healthy nutrition, and a culture of wellness. As a Gold level award
recipient, Beacon has not only recognized the importance of a healthy workplace
for faculty and staff but has also taken important steps to create a culture of
wellness by providing support to employees. As a Fit-Friendly Worksite, we have
received both national and local recognition from the American Heart
Association. We are proud to have achieved this honor and look forward to
continuing our culture of wellness at Beacon College.
Contributed by Kimberly A. Baggett, Associate Vice President of Human Resources
Beacon College Awarded by American Heart Association
For accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges,
colleges are required to implement a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Beacon College’s first QEP was
entitled Enhancing Critical Thinking for Students with Learning Disabilities. A consequence of the QEP was
the development of Beacon College as a learner-centered institution with critical thinking as its core.
Impacting the entire campus climate, the QEP promoted improved reasoning ability within the student
body.
For the College’s second QEP, our Director of Life Coaching, Steve McDaniels, proposed that we focus
on improving students’ emotional and social intelligence. Research shows that, despite intellectual
potential and reasoning ability, many students, with or without learning disabilities, are at-risk because
control over their emotional and social lives is impaired. The proposed topic closely aligns with Goal #4
of the Beacon College Strategic Plan namely to cultivate the physical, mental, and social development of
our students. Mr. McDaniels’ recommendation received unanimous support from the Beacon College
community and consequently our second QEP will be initiated during the spring 2015 semester. Some
of the other happenings on campus that are promoting emotional and social intelligence include:
The Faculty and Staff Book Club selected Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman as the book to
examine in their book review series.
In Residence Life, Del Suggs, MS, Ed presented a Student Leadership Conference on campus on
September 19 and 20, 2014 with sessions entitled Power of Interpersonal Skills, Team Building, and
Interpersonal Skills and Conflict Resolution.
Our Occupational Therapy assistant, Emily James, hosts groups on socialization and
communication, self-esteem, and teamwork while promoting social and emotional intelligence
(read more about it on page 6).
In the Human Services and Psychology department a new course entitled Motivation and Emotion
was developed by Professor A.J. Marsden for the Spring semester to help launch the QEP.
In our Center for Student Success, Learning Specialist, Crystal Boone, is spearheading a bullying
prevention program.
In our Counseling Department, Dana Manzo is hosting anger management groups while Josh
Grover just completed a series of groups on meditation and self-control.
In Personal Development class, students performed random acts of kindness for others on
campus, which research shows promotes happiness and empathy.
In our Activities Department, Dye Dorough, promoted International Peace Day encouraging
faculty, staff, and students to make peace with others while building a human peace sign in the
lawn adjacent to Beacon Hall.
As you can see, we are ready College-wide to embrace our second QEP.
Beacon Implements Second Quality Enhancement Plan
P A G E 3 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
Contributed by Dr. Shelly Chandler, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs
P A G E 4
B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R
From the moment I first met Maureen Hunstein (shown left), I knew she
not only was a tireless advocate for her daughter, Kristi, but also would
undoubtedly be a valuable asset for Beacon College. Maureen is definitely
one of the most educated and motivated individuals about connecting a
college like Beacon with professionals, organizations, and families she
knows can benefit.
Maureen alerted us to the Special Education Parent Teacher Association
(SEPTA) in Long Island, New York. Maureen then volunteered to assist
Beacon with recruitment outreach on Long Island. Maureen represented
Beacon College at the Oyster Bay Special Education College Fair on
October 1st. Maureen shared after her conversations with prospective
students and professionals, “Beacon College is really getting its name out
there. People are impressed with everything it has to offer.” Maureen will
also be distributing Beacon College information at Smithtown during Long
Island’s SEPTA meeting on
October 6th.
Thanks Maureen!
Beacon Parent Supports Recruitment Efforts Contributed by Dale Herold, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management
As Admissions recruitment for Fall 2014 was coming to an
end, my Aunt Lynn in Tampa invited Beacon College to
join her radio show, Talk Back Florida to discuss
Empowering Students with Learning Disabilities & ADHD for
Academic Success. Keeping Florida listeners informed every
Saturday, my Aunt Lynn talked to us about our individual
hurdles. We shared information about living and learning at
Beacon College. She aired time with President George
Hagerty, Dean Dale Herold, and past and present students
Jack Callahan, Michael
Huey, Heather Reed,
and myself. In pairs,
we all had a chance to
t a l k a b o u t o u r
experiences coping with
a learning disability and/
or ADHD, and how Beacon College works with and supports
students in this unique college environment. If you haven’t yet
listened to our comments, I highly recommend it. Please visit http://
www.newstalkflorida.com/talk-back-florida-empowering-students-with-learning-disabilities-adhd-for-
academic-success/ for a link to the audio playback.
Contributed by Andrew Marvin, Assistant Director of Admissions
Beacon College “On the Air”
Pictured left to right: Heather Reed, Dale
Herold, Andrew Marvin, Lynn Marvin
Dingfelder, Michael Huey, George Hagerty,
and Jack Callahan.
If you want to help out
Beacon College’s Admissions
Department in your area,
please call 855-220-5374!
Honoring Beacon’s Founders and 25 Year History
On Sunday, October 12th, at the conclusion of Parents Weekend 2014, Beacon College students and their families
along with staff, faculty, alumni, and friends and supporters of the College gathered at Lake Receptions in Mount
Dora, Florida to honor and recognize the initial founders and early visionaries responsible for developing the
Beacon of today. Beacon’s first Founders Day event corresponds with a year-long celebration of the College’s 25th
anniversary, making it an ideal time to celebrate a new first in its history while reflecting on the past and looking
toward the future.
President Hagerty opened the ceremony by recounting the significant strides made over the past quarter century
and providing a glimpse into the College’s promising future. Chair of the Board of Trustees Mrs. Eileen Marinakis
added a brief overview of the history of the College, remarking on the singular mission that has driven all who have
been connected with the College – from its founders to its current community of like-minded individuals planning
for the future. Marinakis noted, “Beacon College has been fortunate to be helmed by highly qualified educators,
innovative and visionary thinkers who remained true to the mission of the College while striving for future
development and growth.”
Author and former The Washington Post
reporter Gary Karton was the featured
speaker for this event, and he gave an inspiring
speech about his own experiences with
dyslexia and his growth as a writer. He shared
with the audience how being different is a
good thing and that there is no one right way
to do anything. Karton implored students to
find their own path and risk failure because, “If
you’re not afraid to fail, the possibilities are
endless…There’s nothing cooler than chasing
your dream.”
On this festive occasion, 12 honorees were
present to be recognized for their endeavors.
The honorees ranged from the founding
parents (accomplished attorneys Peter and Patricia Latham) to both the College’s founding and longest serving
Presidents, the longest serving staff and faculty member, and members of the Board of Trustees who have been key
contributors to the success of the College across the years.
The College was fortunate to have influential members of the Leesburg community, including Mr. Tim Sullivan, Lake
County Commissioner, and Mr. Al Minner, Leesburg City Manager, join the festivities and add brief but meaningful
comments to the ceremony. Ms. Prita Chhabra began the occasion with a beautiful rendition of the National
Anthem, and she provided a musical interlude by performing her self-written song, “Unstoppable.”
Commenting on the day’s ceremony, President Hagerty had this to say: “The celebration of the 25th anniversary of
the chartering of the College served as a very appropriate time to acknowledge and thank the visionaries and
architects of the College that we know and celebrate today. I believe that no one could have departed Founders
Day without being inspired and even awestruck by the devotion and hard work of the honorees.”
This event was generously sponsored by the Harper Family Charitable Foundation, Evergreen Construction
Management, and the Economic Development & Tourism Department of Lake County Florida.
Contributed by Gretchen Dreimiller, Director of Communications
P A G E 5 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
Honorees and guest speakers pictured left to right: Vincent Ziccolella, Dianna Wade, Kim Baggett, Debora Townley, Terri Ross, Tim Sullivan, Eileen Marinakis, Gary Karton, David Knowles, George Hagerty, Ron Dowdy, Deborah Brodbeck, Sylvia Neill, Dick Williams, and Pat and Peter Latham.
P A G E 6
B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R
With Occupational Therapy now one of many support systems Beacon College has to offer,
students have even more assistance in meeting everyday challenges. Occupational Therapy provided
here at the College is designed to enable students to live their lives as independently as possible
including assistance with self-care, organization, time management, self-awareness, exploration of
personal interests, leisure activities, and more. This
academic year, Occupational Therapy is pleased to
offer its students a Life Skills group, which will focus on
areas such as meal preparation, budgeting, cleaning,
preparation for job or volunteer opportunities that may
arise, and community living. Occupational Therapy is
also offering a Social Skills group which will focus on
various social skills such as communicating effectively
and appropriately in various settings and situations, self-
awareness, and self-esteem. Occupational Therapy
places a premium on the progress of each student’s
goals, particularly those most meaningful to them, and
anticipates helping them find success!
Contributed by Emily James, Occupational Therapist
Occupational Therapy Lends a Helping Hand
On September 11, 2014, Dr. Christopher Huff, Assistant Professor of
History, delivered a lecture at Columbus State University in Columbus,
GA entitled “Reporting the News, Making the News: The Great Speckled
Bird, Atlanta, and the Southern Sixties.” The CSU Department of
History and Geography invited Dr. Huff as part of an exhibition entitled
“The Great Speckled Bird and the Role of the Underground Press in the
1960s.” His lecture focused on the origins of The Great Speckled Bird,
Atlanta’s most prominent and successful underground newspaper, and
its role in creating and defending the city’s New Left and countercultural
community during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In addition to
authoring an entry about the Great Speckled Bird for the New Georgia Encyclopedia, Dr. Huff has
published several articles on the New Left and student movements in Georgia during the 1960s. He
is currently working on an annotated volume of Great Speckled Bird articles.
Contributed by Dr. Christopher Huff, Assistant Professor of History
Dr. Christopher Huff Sheds Light on The Great Speckled Bird
P A G E 7
In October, Beacon established a professional Human Services/Psychology organization complete with officers
and members to offer many benefits to students who will be part of this association. As members,
involvement, excellence, service and personal development are part of the day-to-day activities, which are
designed to offer assistance with career enhancement, communication skills, and most importantly, help in
preparing for a very competitive world after college, where emotional intelligence skills and experiences
gained from service as a proactive member of this organization are required. Benefits anticipated for
participants include:
Social Networking: The easiest and best way to network with students who have similar interests is joining
a student organization. It can assist with a career, hobby, or anything a person is passionate about doing.
Social Skills: Students will learn how to talk and relate to other people from different cultures and
backgrounds. Joining provides an opportunity to build these social skills.
Professional Experience: In joining this organization, students will be exposed to real world activities,
which will be of great advantage to personal development and emotional intelligence.
Personality Development: Being a member of this organization, individual communication skills will
improve by interacting with different people. Officers should expect to absorb even more as all learn how to
balance education and organizational work while focusing on goals.
Leadership Skills: By serving in different roles of this organization, a student may take on responsibilities or
challenges that lead and make a difference within Beacon College and the surrounding community. This
organization can assist in providing each one the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a good leader.
Organization and Management Skills: Many of us are not familiar with how an organization works and
how to manage everything. Being part of this association affords opportunities to learn about fundraising,
finances, event promotion, and teamwork helping students in their future careers.
Resume Builder: Spice up a resume! Remember in high school, counselors advocating participating in sports
and after-school events as they look good on a college application. The same thing applies to job applications
after graduating from Beacon College. Being an officer or proactive member of this student organization is a
great way to get ahead of the competition.
Friendships and Fun: Life is not just about school, careers, or making money. It is about building friendships
and living the life each one of us desires. Getting involved on campus provides a chance to meet people and
build lasting friendships.
There is a big difference between attending a college and being a part of the College. Unfortunately, a
majority of students use college as a means to an end with the “end” being a piece of paper they can frame and
use as a direct means to a salary increase. Successful students see many other aspects of an education, and
this organization may provide an enormous addition to an accredited degree.
Officers were elected to serve October 20th and include Alexander Oard (President), Michelle David (Vice
President), Moni Jones (Vice President), Jessica Ball (SGA Senator), Yendise Collie (Treasurer), Antonio Myers
(Historian), and Lindsey Flax (Marketing).
Contributed by Dr. Richard V. Perrone, Chair, Human Services and Psychology
Enhancing the Beacon Experience
V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
P A G E 8
T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R
At Beacon, we recognize that earning a college degree is a major life accomplishment;
however, it is equally important that our students leave with a clear idea of what career
path is appropriate for them while turning their vocational goals into a reality. Because of
this, starting this semester, Beacon has instituted a
four-year Career Development program. Housed in
the Career Development Center is an instructor
who teaches three specialized career development
courses along with two other professional staff
members who are responsible for determining
internship placement while enhancing the skills
students learn in the classroom. Services there also
include individualized practice interview sessions
and career planning advice.
In their first year under this new model, students begin building a foundation for their
future, learning more about the characteristics, benefits, and potential drawbacks of their
learning disabilities as well as what major and career path match well with their personality,
goals, and learning style. By the second year, students should have a good understanding of
the major that will work best while exploring career options with that degree. A career
assessment is completed to ensure that the desired career goal is a good fit for the
individual student, and job shadowing provides students with an opportunity to see the
reality of working in that chosen profession. The third year is a time to prepare for the
senior internship. Students prepare their resume and cover letter, begin
setting career goals while planning to achieve them, and practice
interviewing and communicating in the work environment. The fourth year
allows students to bring all of the skills they have learned over the past
three years into practice in an actual employment setting when they
complete an internship. Feedback received from the supervisor proves
invaluable as students realize what their strengths and weaknesses are
according to a supervisor.
Internships are valuable experience for any college student as they provide a
chance to learn more with less pressure; it’s meant to be a educational experience.
However, one of the desired outcomes is that the internship will eventually lead to a paid
position. It is therefore with great pride that we announce that senior Andrew Field is the
first Beacon student to be accepted into the Disney College Program! This paid internship
will provide Andrew with beneficial work experience that will assist him in his future
professional development and could even lead to a management position with Disney.
Andrew is excited for this new opportunity, saying, “I feel this is going to benefit me and
the College because if I do a good job in the program, Disney will be more likely to accept
Beacon students in the future. I am excited for this opportunity and to be the first student
from Beacon to be part of it.”
Andrew will begin his internship in January 2015 and return to Beacon to complete degree
requirements for a projected graduation date of December 2015. We know that Andrew
will benefit immensely from this program, and we expect he will make the College look
great when he does an incredible job!
Continued on next page...
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s
Andrew on being the
first Beacon student
to be accepted into
the Disney College
Program!
President Hagerty with Andrew
Contributed by Gretchen Dreimiller, Director of Communications
Beacon Launches Career Development Program
Beacon “Scores a Home Run” at NACAC 2014
P A G E 9 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
Held in Indianapolis in mid-September, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)
Conference brings together the entire college counseling community to focus on best practices and collaboration
between and among public, private, parochial, and
independent school counselors and independent educational
consultants. NACAC has over 13,000 members. This year’s
conference was attended by over 6,000 educational
professionals where Beacon served a significant role!
While colleges and universities are generally not permitted
to be an Exhibitor at NACAC, due to Beacon College’s
unique mission, the College was one of over 1,300
exhibitors. Showcasing at this event greatly enhanced
Beacon’s exposure. Prior to the conference, Beacon
launched an aggressive marketing and outreach campaign
encouraging educational professionals to visit Beacon’s booth
and learn
more about
the College’s outstanding student outcomes. As a result, the
Admissions team, represented by Stephanie Knight, Director of
Admissions, Rachel Masson, Northeast Regional Recruitment
Coordinator, and
myself interacted
with more than
4 0 0 c o l l e g e
counselors eager
to know more
about Beacon
College. It was an
overwhelming response that kept us busy long into the evenings!
The photos shown here are of the Exhibit Hall and activity at the
Beacon College booth. They depict the large crowds and provide a
snapshot of the many conversations held with college counselors
from across the country. In addition to exhibiting, Beacon College
gave a 45-minute conference session to approximately 50
educational professionals entitled: Learning Disabilities and
ADHD in a Post-Secondary World. The NACAC conference
also sponsors a college fair which attracts high school
counselors from the region. Beacon College spoke with 45
counselors. More than 1,500 colleges and universities were
represented.
Beacon College gained significant exposure at NACAC.
Already, many of the counselors who attended the
conference have asked our Admissions team to visit their
school. It was exhilarating to be a part of this terrific
experience that proved so successful for Beacon College!
Contributed by Dale Herold, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management
Dale Herold and Rachel Masson at Booth 1108
View of the College Fair’s 1500+ College Reps
Presenters Stephanie Knight and Rachel
Masson
View of the Crowded Exhibit Hall
P A G E 1 0
T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R
Contributed by Dr. Robert A. Bridgeman, Executive Vice President and In-House Legal Counsel
A community college in Connecticut (defendant) had banned a visitor from coming to the campus.
This decision was predicated upon the visitor (plaintiff) continually coming to the College library in
a sleeveless shirt in contravention to the College handbook. The visitor was told he was “too
disruptive and confrontational” as well. Upon the next visit, campus safety came and ordered him
to leave the premises. Later, a College official offered to meet with him to discuss the ban; he
refused the invitation. A letter was later sent informing him of his ban from the entire College
campus.
The visitor responded by filing a lawsuit. He claimed he was banned due to his dress and/or sexual
orientation. He further claimed he was subjected to unlawful sexual harassment. The visitor
amended his complaint to include violations of his First Amendment rights as well as the Equal
Protection Clause.
You Be the Judge: Who Wins This Case?
Answer:
To win a First Amendment rights case you have to show:
1. There is a First Amendment interest;
2. The defendant took action because that right was exercised; and
3. The actions of the defendant chilled the exercise of his First Amendment rights.
In this case, the plaintiff visitor did not clearly indicate what speech was protected. Not enough
information was presented to make a determination if his attire was the basis of the claim. On the
other claims, the court held there were not enough alleged facts to establish any violations;
therefore case dismissed – the College wins.
You Be the Judge: Legal Cases in Higher Ed
President Hagerty announced to the campus community at the beginning of the Fall semester, “healthy
enrollment growth should be preceded by thoughtful consideration of the programs and campus that
will define the College’s future. Therefore, this year, the College and our Board of Trustees will utilize
the counsel and expertise of the firm, Credo, the higher education leader in master planning, to chart an
ambitious, student-focused course for the future development of our campus and our undergraduate
offerings.” This “experience planning” and “master planning” effort will be undertaken over the course
of the entire academic year and will involve everyone – Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and parents –
in this process.
Therefore, we would like to announce that Credo will be visiting our campus, November 4-6,
2014. During this time, Credo’s team will collect information on space and place, including our
grounds, facilities, and interior spaces and begin utilization studies. Meetings will be held by the Credo
team with a Beacon Steering Committee and constituent groups including students. “Town hall”
meetings for all members of the community will also be arranged. The purpose of these sessions will
be to discuss our views of the current campus environment and to begin shaping our thinking about
the desired student experience!
The Beacon College Campus Master Plan
P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V
The Beacon College Math Department utilizes the Math Emporium model in all classes. The current
national trend is to offer Mathematics classes online employing a computer program. The computer
program employed at Beacon (and hundreds of other colleges and universities) is called ALEKS, which
stands for “Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces.” It was developed by researchers at UC
Irvine, NYU, and the University of Brussels with grants from the National Science Foundation. The
program uses artificial
intelligence to determine which
topics a student has learned
and which topics the student is
ready to learn. Those topics in
which the student has already
developed competency are
added to the student’s list of
accomplishments. Students are
able to see their list of
accomplishments grow on a
daily basis.
Instructors across the nation
have seen student scores increase dramatically. Many students who have never done well in Math are
now earning A’s. Students report they feel empowered because they have more control over their
learning. Students can ask questions at any time. They can practice a skill as many times as they need in
order to feel confident. In addition to an increase in student scores within a particular class, Instructors
have found that student retention of material between classes has also increased significantly (according
to www.aleks.com).
Here at Beacon College, we have two Instructors as well as student tutors. Students have ample
opportunity to consult with professors or peers when learning new material. The Professors have
developed materials to augment the instruction provided by the computer program. Also, Professors
explain certain topics that students request at the beginning of class using an interactive whiteboard.
Color copies of these notes are provided to students upon request and are posted to the College
Learning Management System. Students can print notes from ALEKS on color coded paper. Many
students prefer to upload notes to their handheld devices and/or iCloud accounts.
At the end of the course, students have documented proof of the mathematics topics which they have
mastered. This establishes in concrete terms what students have learned. Many colleges and universities
across the nation employ this same computer program ensuring students at Beacon are learning the
same material as their peers enrolled in other educational institutions.
In addition to the work that students complete using the computer program, students engage in
teamwork and presentation activities. These activities are designed to strengthen student’s critical
thinking and soft skills. In an effort to “sweeten” the subject of math, a weekly estimation contest is
conducted. Students estimate how many pieces of candy are in a jar that is hand selected for its unusual
size or shape.
Beacon College Riding the Wave of
Cutting-Edge Higher Ed Math Technology Contributed by Sarita Cupp, Mathematics Instructor