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Increasing student preparedness and success with Revel
“It’s the best textbook I’ve ever read because there is no fluff and it’s easy to read,” says an economics student at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). “You actually want to read it.”
A textbook college students want to read?
Unusual though it may seem, many economics students at UNCG express comments like these, ever since their professor began using Revel: Microeconomics Interactive, 1st Edition by Parkin, Bade, and Sarbaum.
Better learning through engaging, interactive content
In Microeconomics Interactive, Revel enlivens expert subject matter with learning tools, giving students opportunities to participate in active learning through videos, assessments, and interactive graphs.
Students enjoy the engaging format, praising the features that provide real-world context to theoretical concepts. "The interactive and buildable graphs make it easier to learn and understand difficult concepts and topics,” one student remarks.
Even when their professor assigns significant amounts of work, the students recognize the value of doing it. As one student commented, "I hate that I have to do so many questions in the chapter, and it takes me a lot of time, but I know it's actually really good for me because, otherwise, I wouldn't bother reading the book. I know I am learning a lot more as a result of using Revel."
Getting students to complete pre-class assignments
Research indicates that students who complete the pre-class material assigned by their instructors experience a measurable increase in their exam scores.
For faculty who are considering new learning materials, the UNCG economics professor says, “I would ask them how important it is to them that their students come to class having already read the material, so once you start lecturing, their cognitive load is going to be reduced and they’re going to have a better opportunity to retain what you are teaching them.”
Beyond reduced cognitive load and increased retention of information, completing pre-class work can also positively impact a student’s metacognition because they have an idea of which concepts they understand, and which concepts need additional explanation.
Increasing access and student success
Revel also addresses issues of accessibility, particularly for financially disadvantaged students, with Inclusive Access (IA) programs.
Students who come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds can struggle in their courses if they must wait two or three weeks into the term to receive financial aid and purchase their materials. With IA these students can get their materials on day one and avoid falling behind.
If any students do fall behind during the term, Revel’s analytics empower instructors to proactively identify struggling students and difficult topics, facilitating timely interventions and personalized support, consequently increasing student success.
Driving the future of higher education
In the post-COVID era, Revel's role in nurturing effective study habits and facilitating remote learning assumes heightened significance.
Its seamless integration with learning management systems renders it an invaluable tool for educators navigating the complexities of hybrid or online instruction.
Revel’s fusion of dynamic multimedia elements, structured reading assignments, and analytics capabilities make it an indispensable asset for instructors and students striving to optimize learning outcomes in the ever-evolving landscape of higher education.
Read more about this instructor’s experience with Revel in the full instructor spotlight.
Student Survey Analysis Infographic
![Top half of an infographic showing key statistics from the Fall ‘23 Revel Study Survey](/content/dam/global-store/en-us/images/img-SarbaumBlog-01.jpg)
![ottom half of an infographic showing key statistics from the Fall ‘23 Revel Study Survey](/content/dam/global-store/en-us/images/img-SarbaumBlog-02.jpg)
About the author
![Image of Liz Lebold](/content/dam/global-store/en-us/images/liz-lebold-thumb-blog.jpg)
Liz Lebold
Liz Lebold is the Sr. Product Marketing Analyst for Revel and Collections at Pearson.