Nudges tied to a boost in STEM students' persistence at 2-year colleges, study finds

educationdive | September 10, 2019

STEM students who received nudges at four community colleges persisted at a 16-percentage-point-higher rate after their first semester than those who opted not to receive the nudges, according to a study released Tuesday.Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Persistence Plus selected three institutions in Ohio and one in Virginia to implement a campuswide nudging initiative, which involved nearly 10,000 students total, after a successful pilot of the program in 2017. Some populations saw greater effects than others. Racial minority and adult students who received nudges had persistence rates that were 16 and 20 percentage points higher, respectively, than students in those groups who didn't receive nudges. Nudges, or digital alerts that aim to influence students' behavior, have been floated as a possible solution to some of higher education's hard-to-solve problems. In this case, JFF, a workforce development nonprofit, and Persistence Plus, an education services company, wanted to test if nudges could break down the "psychosocial barriers" that can lead to STEM students dropping out of college.

Spotlight

Career Ready  What qualities do employers look for in candidates? Of course, the first thing they look for is the ability to do the work required. They also look for "soft skills" or qualities. Being able to demonstrate that you have these skills could be the difference in getting the job or not.

Spotlight

Career Ready  What qualities do employers look for in candidates? Of course, the first thing they look for is the ability to do the work required. They also look for "soft skills" or qualities. Being able to demonstrate that you have these skills could be the difference in getting the job or not.

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ONLINE EDUCATION

Alteryx Launches Upskilling Initiative for Data Literacy

Alteryx | March 02, 2023

On March 01, 2023, Alteryx, an analytics automation platform, launched the Alteryx SparkED Datathon series, designed for data literacy and upskilling in partnership with McLaren Racing. Disney, RSM US LLP and McLaren Racing hosted two days SparkED Datathon at The University of Texas, Dallas (UT Dallas). Alteryx SparkED is its free analytics education program, helping about 977 institutions worldwide, with approximately 87% increase annually in 2022, and over 140,000 learners in different countries benefited. This upskilling initiative would help learners gain knowledge and experience in data and analytics operations and understand the importance of these operations for decision intelligence in the business outcomes of data-driven organizations. In addition, it empowers individual learners and career changers with growth opportunities and enhanced career outcomes even in the present economic crisis. McLaren Racing's Executive Director, Partnerships and Accelerator, Matt Dennington said, "Promoting STEM education pathways to help prepare today's students to become tomorrow's data leaders' forms part of McLaren Racing's commitment to making STEM careers more accessible to all." He added, "Teaming up with our partner Alteryx to host a SparkED Datathon at the McLaren Technology Centre is an exciting opportunity for data-curious students. They will need to solve challenges using real-world McLaren data on the same innovative analytics platform our team uses to power our performance-enhancing insights." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) UT Dallas' Director of MS Business Analytics and Assistant Professor of Instruction, Gaurav Shekhar said, "It's important for us to build a robust data analytics program and give our students strong networking opportunities to improve their career outcomes." He added, "Alteryx SparkED has been a key partner for upskilling our students and helping them develop highly demanded data analytics skills that every employer across every industry needs." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Alteryx Headquartered in Irvine, California, Alteryx, a software development company, provides services for self-service data analytics, predictive analytics, spatial analytics, business intelligence, statistical analytics, strategic analytics, data analytics, data blending, data prep, and data science. It offers end-to-end automation of data engineering, analytics, reporting, machine learning, and data science processes. It empowers businesses with data analytics which is helpful for them in many business processes. Customers trust its insights for impactful business outcomes worldwide. With its software data, enterprises solve complex problems, saving their mundane data preparation work, distribution, and time.

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CORPORATE LEARNING SYSTEMS

Quizlet Introduces Q-Chat Built on OpenAI's ChatGPT API

Quizlet | March 06, 2023

Quizlet, an e-learning solutions provider, has recently introduced a fully adaptive artificial intelligence-powered tutor platform, Q-Chat, on OpenAI's ChatGPT API. Q-Chat integrates Quizlet's huge educational content library of questions and definitions with AI models from OpenAI for students' virtual learning experience. With automation, it conversationally engages students with quizzes to deepen their knowledge and concepts. Quizlet has invested in AI software to make a more engaging and effective way of study available to students. Collaborating with OperAI, it leverages GPT-3 for multiple uses like vocabulary learning and test practices. In addition, artificial intelligence and machine learning support Learn Mode platform and provides personalized adaptive study experience for the enhanced learning experience. Fast Company recognized its learner-centric strategy for integrating AI into its e-learning platform nationally. It referred to this strategy as 'Smart Grading' in its 'Next Big Things' in Tech awards for 2022 in social good and education. It praised Quizlet's ability to "better assess a student's written response for signs of conceptual understanding, rather than solely rewarding rote memorization." Quizlet's Chief Executive Officer, Lex Bayer said, "Quizlet has long recognized the potential of AI to enhance studying and learning by personalizing the student experience." He added, "As an early adopter of this technology, we know that when used effectively it can help students deepen their knowledge and learn more efficiently. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with OpenAI and providing our students with more ways to practice and master whatever they're learning." (Source – Cision PR Newswire) About Quizlet Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Quizlet, a global educational platform, has provided consumer learning services and educational technology services since 2005. It empowers students and teachers with innovative learning tools and enhanced learning experiences. It has about 60 million active users per month. It is a popular website and educational application for iOS and Android. It is a Series C startup with the support of Union Square Ventures, Costanoa Venture Capital, Icon Ventures, Owl Ventures, Altos Ventures and General Atlantic. With massive reach and advanced learning tools, it is influencing the education sector worldwide.

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TALENT DEVELOPMENT

Catapult Learning Signs Contract with Mississippi Department of Education

Catapult Learning | February 09, 2023

On February 8, 2023, Catapult Learning, a provider of student intervention programs and professional development solutions for instructors in K-12 schools, announced that it was chosen by the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) to deliver professional development (PD) and coaching services to educators in K-12 schools to enhance student outcomes. The four-year state contract contains a one-year renewal option for a fifth year. MDE will provide at least 25 new instructional math coaches in collaboration with Catapult Learning. The first group will serve educators in Greenwood-Leflore Consolidated School Districts and Jackson Public at seven elementary and middle schools. Throughout the year, MDE will incorporate additional schools. Catapult Learning's experienced math coaches provide online, in-person, or job-embedded coaching, in-person modeling and co-teaching, individualized action plans, classroom observations, professional development, lesson plan development, and summer enrichment for administrators. Additionally, it provides PD for over 500 school districts annually on vital education topics such as mathematics, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), literacy and The Science of Reading, social-emotional learning, inclusive practices, and mental health. Scalable and adaptable, the company's PD addresses the requirements of schools and districts of all sizes through online, face-to-face, and job-embedded support. PDNow, the company's online platform, offers asynchronous learning in addition to workshops and coaching, allowing educators and leaders to benefit from over 200 hours of online workshops, community interaction and just-in-time resources. About Catapult Learning Catapult Learning, a division of FullBloom, provides K-12 schools with experienced coaches who implement intervention programs for students and PD solutions for teachers. The company's PD services enhance the capacity of educators and administrators to increase and maintain student achievement. Its intervention programs support struggling students with individualized instruction based on their specific needs. By partnering with over 500 school districts nationwide, the company promotes academic and professional growth outcomes. Catapult Learning is accredited by Cognia and has been awarded the System of Distinction honor in 2022.

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