MyLab IT custom package positively impacts student success in the Microsoft Office Specialist testing initiative at San Francisco State University
Pearson | September 16, 2021 in Meaningful Outcomes
by Pearson
How MyLab IT contributes to student success
In Fall 2018, Professor Daniel Ciomek from San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA partnered with Pearson to investigate whether the custom package of MyLab™ IT, Information Systems Today: Managing in the Digital World by Valacich and Schneider (primary eText), Exploring Microsoft Access 2016 Comprehensive and Exploring Microsoft Excel 2016 Comprehensive by Poatsy impacted student success in his Information Systems for Management course.
Researchers found that:
- 81 of 196 students (41%) passed and received Excel or Access Microsoft Specialist (MOS) certifications.
- 96% of student survey respondents agreed that their understanding of Excel and Access increased as a result of using MyLab IT.
- 89% of student survey respondents agreed that "Having a Microsoft Office Specialist certification brings an advantage when applying to jobs."
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Why did Professor Daniel Ciomek utilize MyLab IT?
Daniel Ciomek has been teaching at SF State since 2012 and has been a MyLab IT user since 2016. Since Spring 2017, he has made MyLab IT Capstone Grader Projects a mandatory course component. When students achieve 90% or higher on a Capstone, they earn a digital badge through the Acclaim system.
To take things a step further from badging, Ciomek wanted to offer Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams on campus to allow students to take the industry-standard official certification. Ciomek initiated the process to become a Certiport Authorized Test Center (CATC)
How was MyLab IT implemented?
Information Systems for Management (ISYS 363) is a comprehensive study of the use of Information Systems for management decision making. The class is conducted in a lecture-style format and meets once a week for 2 hours and 45 minutes. All assignments and quizzes are scheduled with weekly deadlines. Students must read/watch/complete the designated course material prior to attending class and must be able to discuss the material during that time.
MyLab IT assessments include Information Systems Today reading homework, Access and Excel assignments and Simulation Trainings. Other assessments include five quizzes, two MOS certification exams, a syllabus quiz and a final exam. All MyLab IT assessments make up 57% of the total course grade.
Were students successful in this course?
Badging results:
- In Ciomek’s Spring 2018 and Fall 2018 sections, 72% of students submitting the Capstone Grader Projects for Access Chapter 1–4 received a badge and 66% of students received a badge for the Excel Chapter 1–4 Capstone Grader Project.
Overall MOS certification results:
- By the end of December 2018, 196 students sat for the MOS exam, of which 81 received certifications — a 41% pass rate.
Did students like using MyLab IT?
Students in Ciomek’s Fall 2018 section were surveyed at the end of the semester to gather their feedback on MyLab IT, badging, and the MOS certification exam
- 96% of respondents agreed that “My understanding of Excel and Access increased as a result of using MyLab IT."
- 84% of respondents agreed that “MyLab IT badges give me an advantage when applying to jobs."
- 89% of respondents agreed that "Having a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification brings an advantage when applying to jobs."
One student said:
“MyLab IT guides you through the basic fundamentals of Excel and Access software. The program increases the user’s comfort and familiarity with the software on a basic level.”
Conclusion
As indicated by student survey responses, a majority of students agree that having a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification brings an advantage when applying to jobs. Encouragingly, Ciomek has already received anecdotal evidence that the MOS certification is proving useful for students who have passed the exam.
