Louisiana State University Math Lab Honored for Groundbreaking Work to Increase Student Achievement in Math

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 - 12:34 | By: mymathlab | Category: Press

Baton Rouge, LA May 5, 2009 -- Louisiana State University's groundbreaking work to increase student achievement in introductory math classes using innovative technology has been honored with an award from Pearson, the world's leading education publishing and technology company.

The Pearson Teaching and Technology Leadership Award, instituted in 2008, is presented to one postsecondary institution in recognition of its work to improve mathematics instruction through technology and redesigning how courses are taught. Pearson presented the award to the LSU Foundation Mathematics Research and Instructional Support Fund to support future initiatives of the LSU Math Lab.
Under the leadership of Precalculus Coordinator Phoebe Rouse, the LSU Math Lab is nationally recognized as a leader in math education. Since 2004, LSU has used the National Center for Academic Transformation's (NCAT) course redesign method combined with Pearson's MyMathLab, an online learning solution, to boost student achievement in math.
"The work of Phoebe Rouse and the LSU team at the higher education and high school levels have made an enormous difference in changing how mathematics can be taught, showing that it is possible to improve student performance through personalized learning," said Greg Tobin, President of Mathematics and Statistics at Pearson.
"We are so proud to receive national recognition for what our university has done to put our students in a position to be successful in their first year of mathematics at LSU," said LSU Chancellor Mike Martin. "In a typical fall semester, 60 percent of our freshmen take College Algebra, Trigonometry, or Precalculus. Approximately 70 percent of them earn a grade of A, B, or C on their first attempt, and this is far above the national average for these courses. Congratulations to all LSU personnel who have contributed to the success of the LSU Math Lab."
At LSU, students in College Algebra and Trigonometry now spend one fixed hour a week in a traditional 40-student classroom with their teacher, and then spend a minimum of three hours a week in the LSU Math Lab doing homework and quizzes using Pearson's MyMathLab. Homework exercises can be attempted an unlimited number of times prior to the due date, and students get multiple attempts on quizzes. The 275-seat LSU Math Lab is open 60 hours a week and is staffed with instructors, graduate students, and undergraduate tutors who give students immediate, personalized assistance. Students also get help from the MyMathLab tutorials (help, examples, videos) and from LSU-produced videos. Students take their password-protected, proctored unit tests in the university testing center also using MyMathLab.

"This student-centered approach to learning requires students to put in more time doing mathematics and less time watching mathematics, which is why their learning outcomes are measurably higher," said Phoebe Rouse.
In addition to her work in higher education, Phoebe Rouse helped create a pilot program to bring LSU's math program to high schools across Louisiana using Pearson's math program. Recognizing that many students were arriving on campus lacking the skills needed to succeed at college-level work, Rouse and her colleagues worked with high school teachers in areas of Louisiana where access has traditionally been an issue. The high school students in the LSU program take the same homework, quizzes, tests and final exam as the LSU students, and can earn college credit if they pass the final exam and gain admission to the university. The program continues to grow, with more than 1,500 students at 53 high schools across Louisiana participating since 2006.
Pearson's MyMathLab can be customized to suit each student's level of knowledge and can be used in any environment--lab-based, hybrid, distance learning or traditional classroom. Since 2001, more than 1,850 higher education institutions have used one of Pearson's math programs and achieved positive results in the form of increased pass rates, increased retention rates, increased levels of student success in subsequent courses and increased achievement by underserved populations.
According to a recent report, colleges and universities that combine the National Center for Academic Transformation's (NCAT) course redesign method with one of Pearson's innovative online math programs were able to reduce their costs per student while increasing student gains.
Since 1999, the National Center for Academic Transformation's course redesign programs have proven that through more effective use of information technology, it is possible to produce better learning outcomes at reduced cost. NCAT's initial program, Program in Course Redesign, resulted in 25 of the 30 course redesign projects showing significant increases in student learning, with all 30 projects reducing their costs by an average of 37 percent--a collective annual savings of approximately $3 million.
For more information about Pearson's math programs, visit http://www.mymathlab.com/.
About Pearson -- Pearson (NYSE:PSO), the global leader in education and education technology, reaches and engages today's digital natives with effective and personalized learning, as well as dedicated professional development for their teachers. This commitment is demonstrated in the company's investment in innovative print and digital education materials for preK through college, student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products that set the standard for the industry. The company's respected brands include eCollege, Prentice Hall, Addison Wesley, Benjamin Cummings, MyLabs, and many others. Pearson's comprehensive offerings help inform targeted instruction and intervention so that success is within reach of every student at every level of education. Pearson's commitment to education for all is supported by the global philanthropic initiatives of the Pearson Foundation. Pearson's other primary businesses include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group. For more information, go to www.pearson.com.
Contact:
Susan Aspey
347-421-2473

Tags: Louisiana State University, Student Achieivement