Demonstration:Course Management and

Learning Software:My Lab Products

Sue C. SpauldingUNC Charlotte

Department of PsychologyTeaching and Learning with Technology

ConferenceRaleigh, NC March 15 – 17, 2006

Student Comment

Requiring My Psych Lab was much better than

requiring students to purchase merely a

textbook, as it facilitates learning, not just

memorization. Even though I'm generally a

crammer by nature, it still helped a lot, and I

imagine it helped a lot of other students even

more. (Spring 2005)

Overview

Challenge of teaching large classes

Why add technology

Effect of technology on performance

My Lab Product Information

Developing a My Lab course

How My Psych Lab is being used

Student Satisfaction and comments

Large Classroom Effects

A sea of faces

A large room

Distance from students

How do you connect?

How do you motivate?

How do you help with learning?

Teacher or Actor?

Must we entertain students in large classes?

How can we establish an environment for learning?

What resources can we bring to bare to improve learning in high failure courses?

Why Use Technology

gets students involved with the material.

improves performance on classroom exams.

provides additional venues to assess learning and understanding.

motivates students.

increases student – faculty interaction.

there is an implementation curve before it can be used effectively

Course Grade Comparisons

Fall 2001 – Spring 2003

Fall 2003 – Spring 2004

Fall 2004 – Fall 2005

Percent of students

N A B C D F

772 18 30 31 13 8

376 16 33 24 16 11

840 26 31 26 9 8

Term Range

Fall ’03 & Spring ‘04 reflect product development terms.

Exam Performance Mean Exam Scores Group 1 Group 2 Group 3

Didn’t complete All W/O Exempt Term MPL Activities students students 

Fall 2005 56.22 75.21* 72.37*

Spring 2005 50.72 75.71* 73.77*

Fall 2004 50.00 76.29* 73.52*

Spring 2004 49.39 74.76* 73.08*

Fall 2003 58.95 76.73* 74.75**Difference significant at the p<.001 level between Group 1 and 2/3

Group 2 and 3 completed MPL activities.

My Lab Products

a rich learning environment for students

multiple avenues for faculty to access learning

increase interaction with students

development has been student driven

use as is or easily modify to fit individual styles and needs

My Lab Components

e-text

Discussion Board

Chat room

Practice tests

Study Plan

Internal email

Research Navigator

Audio Glossary

Gradebook

Internal email

Usage details

Customized tests

Message board

Product Support

Students Instructors

Developing a My Lab Course

Is the technology hard to learn? Does the technology work? Will students use the technology? Is it worth my time to develop?

Introductory Psychology

• 3 projects - 1 per exam period (20 Pts)

• 1 pt Extra Credit for each Chapter exam completed with score of 90/125 and done before in-class exam (12 of 360 course pts)

• Use activities in class as demonstrations

• Eight of 50 questions per exam are from chapter exams and Psi-Q Game

MPL Projects

Accessing a Course

Course Home Page

Course Tools

• Address Book• Announcements• Calendar• Chalk Title Management• Collaboration• Communications Area• Content Area• Discussion Board• Drop Box• Email• Glossary

• Gradebook• Groups• Home Page• Messages• My Grades• Observer Tools• Roster• Staff Information• Tasks• Electric Blackboard• Tools Area

Assessment Tools

• Assessment Tool Manager• Survey Manager• Pool Manger• Gradebook• TestGen Manager• Gradebook Views• Course Statistics

Control Panel

Student Satisfaction

Percent Responding Strongly Agree/Agree

Overall MPL was a beneficial addition to this class 91.8%

Using MPL helped me understand moreof the material presented in this class 90.6%

The variety of activities available in MPLmade the material more interesting 82.3%

The chapter Exams were beneficial 76.5%

Student Comment

Overall, I thought that My Psych Lab was very

helpful. It was the main tool that I used to study

for our exams. When I did not do well on a

certain area, it clearly showed me the things that

I needed to work on. All of the practice tests

really helped me to narrow down what I needed

to study for the test. I am very glad that we were

able to use My Psych Lab as a tool in this class.

(Fall 2005)

Student Comment

I really enjoyed using My Psych Lab. The

program was very beneficial to me and it really

helped me to learn the material for the test. It

also helped with my understanding of each unit

and presented information that I did not

understand in a new way. I wish that every

class had a program like this one, it was very

helpful in many different ways. (Fall 2005)

Student Comment

Each time I used My Psych Lab my grade

improved. It was obvious what chapters I

studied for using the program and which ones I

did not. My Psych Lab was a very beneficial

and key element to helping me to understand

this class. (Fall 2005)