Maximizing Engagement in Statistics Courses with Mastery-Based Learning: An Instructor’s Testimonial

Professor Kathie Lennertz teaches her Math 250 courses at Fort Hays State University with Hawkes Learning’s Discovering Statistics and Data, 3rd Edition materials. Learn more about Professor Lennertz’s Hawkes experience below!

Before Hawkes, my students would not do enough homework to be able to master the material. They would just make a quick pass at the assignment and move on even though many would have a section score like “2 out of 14 correct.” This contributed to a poor homework score, which frequently led to a poor exam score and a poor course grade. Something had to be done to compel students to spend more time, effort, and attention to actually being able to learn concepts deeply enough to correctly solve a wide range of problems. Also, my students need course materials and technical support that take into account the needs of fully online students, most of whom are working adults.

“The mastery-based assignment certification is a game-changer.“

I set mine to 80%, which requires a strong performance from the student without the burden of perfection. Having the relevant section materials right there in Learn gives them easy access to the book while they are working on problems. In addition, the Practice section has an amazingly large set of problems. This is especially good for difficult concepts like the Central Limit Theorem. Practice makes better, and the students need to practice. Most of the concepts are strange and new to them, so having lots of directed practice with concept-based feedback and the new AI-generated tutor is necessary. This puts the student in charge of his or her own learning, which will be a huge help to each of them later in life.

They also benefit greatly from an excellent book written by a statistician like Dr. Hawkes. Statistics is a separate subject from mathematics with its own nomenclature. The book includes a large number of real-world examples from many different areas of human life. Since my students come from many different programs of major study, it gives each of them examples and problems of the sort they might find in their profession.

The students demonstrate FAR greater engagement in the course. They dig into the concepts, and most are able to apply the material to their own lives. Most seem more satisfied with their course experience. I also get a lot fewer complaints about the course and some more compliments. The grades in my classes are higher too. Thus, fewer students have to repeat the course. My department likes that, the students like that, and I like that. Everybody wins.

The Hawkes system helps my students learn better and have greater success in the course. They go through less “agony” during the semester. The system and I have become partners in helping students learn. The awesome customer service is a real benefit to me and my students. We know that the reps and tech staff are there for us.