CASE STUDY

WebAssign® Increasing Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra

University of Wisconsin–Green Bay

University of WisconsinGreen Bay, WI

WebAssign®: Increasing Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra — UWGB

Learn more online at www.cengage.com/ewa2

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) was founded in 1965 as a public

institution of higher learning and now enrolls approximately 6,600 classroom

learners in a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and adult learning programs.

Sherri Urcavich, UWGB mathematics faculty member and Coordinator for Remedial

Education, redesigned their developmental mathematics course, focusing on

beginning algebra in hopes of improving pass rates and overall retention. Originally

designed to prepare non-traditional learners for college level mathematics, the

beginning algebra course now serves underprepared learners who never intended

to attend college, returning adults as well as limited traditional learners. Success is

critical as UWGB requires a demonstrated proficiency in this course as a condition

of continued enrollment in the University of Wisconsin system.

Urcavich learned about an approach that colleges in Florida were using successfully

to improve performance in mathematics. In spring 2009, she piloted this immersion

approach while incorporating WebAssign at UWGB. Urcavich said, “We redesigned

a 14 week course to meet for 7 weeks, 4-5 days per week instead of 2-3 days and

met 6 hours per week instead of 3.” The goals included getting learners to do more

homework; with the new approach, homework was assigned every day giving

learners ample opportunity for practice and receive immediate feedback. An in-class

assignment and an online homework assignment were required every day; chapter

quizzes were given online; three multi-chapter exams were given in class; and a

comprehensive final exam was given.

Urcavich has been tracking student success in this course suspecting that the

compressed course would provide better learning outcomes for students. Prior to

implementation of their new program passing rates were as follows:

TABLE 1 Student Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra without Immersion and WebAssign (N=400)

Fall 2006

Term Pass Rate

70%

75%

73%

Spring 2007

Fall 2008

“The trend was definitely in the wrong direction and needed to be turned around,”

Urcavich stated. Overall pass rates have shown a definite improvement with the

new immersion approach and WebAssign’s online features that support classroom

learners.

TABLE 2

About WebAssign®

WebAssign® combines the

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WebAssign. WebAssign

engages classroom learners

with immediate feedback,

rich tutorial content, and

interactive eBooks, helping

students to develop a deeper

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assignments can be built by

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WebAssign®: Increasing Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra — UWGB

Student Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra with Immersion and WebAssign (N=450)

Spring 2009

Term Pass Rate

89%

88%

93%

Fall 2009

Spring 2010

Fall 2010 90%

88%Spring 2011

“Students just keep building on what they’ve learned, and we are very happy with our

pass rates in this course,” said Urcavich. Passing rates in developmental mathematics

at UWGB are now much higher with the new approach. This approach using a

combination of immersion and WebAssign is being expanded to support students

in Intermediate Algebra as well. Urcavich points out that success in these courses

supports one of the university’s larger goals of student retention.

Urcavich went on to say, “Our target pass rate for this course is 85%. In the three

years prior to instituting the immersion method along with WebAssign, we did

not accomplish the goal. (See Table 1.) Since restructuring the program to include

immersion and WebAssign, we have exceeded the goal every semester.” (See Table 2.)

After the full implementation of the course redesign, the passing rate in beginning

algebra increased by 23% to an average of 90%. (See Figure 1.) This not only met

the target, but helped dozens of students every semester succeed in a key college

course.

FIGURE 1Student Passing Rates in Beginning Algebra (Fall 2006 – Spring 2011)

“The combination of our

immersion approach and

WebAssign has boosted

student confidence in

mathematics since it’s

easy for them to build

on what they’ve just

learned through online

practice and homework

assignments.”

Sherri UrcavichUniversity of Wisconsin-Green Bay

3

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

70%

Fall2006

75%

Fall2007

73%

Fall2008

89%

Spring2009

88%

Fall2009

93%

Spring2010

90%

Fall2010

88%

Spring2011

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company’s products and services are designed to foster academic excellence and

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Copyright ©2013 Cengage. All Rights Reserved.

Source Code: 14M-MA0492

ISBN: 978-1-133-36743-7