MyLab Intro to Business positively impacts retention rates and student success
Pearson | October 7, 2021 in Meaningful Outcomes
by Pearson
MyLab Intro to Business positively impacts retention rates and student performance
In Spring 2018, Professor Janet Brooks from Glendale Community College in Glendale, AZ partnered with Pearson to investigate the impact of MyLab™ Intro to Business and Business Essentials by Ebert and Griffin on retention rates and student performance in her Introduction to Business course.
Researchers found that:
- The retention rate for students in the pilot section using MyLab was 16 percentage points higher than the retention rate for students in the section not using MyLab.
- Students completing all MyLab homework assignments had average MyLab quiz scores six percentage points higher than students who skipped at least one MyLab assignment.
- 87.5% of respondents on an end-of-semester survey agreed that their understanding of the course material increased as a result of using MyLab.
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Why did Professor Janet Brooks adopt MyLab Intro to Business?
Having used MyLab assignments in some of her other classes to engage students and positively impact learning and achievement, Brooks noted an increase in course retention rates. Hoping to experience a similar improvement in success rates, she engaged in a class test of MyLab for her Introduction to Business class in Spring 2018.
How was MyLab Intro to Business implemented?
Introduction to Business is a one-semester, three-credit, entry-level course. MyLab assignments consist mainly of simulations, video cases, and quizzes.
- Mini Sims: Students make a series of decisions, and the Mini Sim then branches, creating various scenario paths based on answers given.
- Video case studies: Each 10-minute video case is followed by five multiple-choice questions, providing an opportunity for students to apply what they are reading about to the real world.
- MyLab quizzes: Six online quizzes are administered throughout the semester and usually cover 2–3 chapters.
- Writing assignments: Optional, low-stakes writing assignments through Writing Space in MyLab.
Other assessments include a marketing plan and discussion post. Mylab assignments account for 75% of the total course grade.
Were students successful in the course?
Brooks had one section of her course use MyLab and the corresponding Pearson textbook, while the other section used her previously adopted print textbook only from another publisher.
- Retention in the section using MyLab was 16 percentage points higher than in the section using the print textbook.
Students who completed all MyLab assignments earned higher average MyLab quiz scores and had average exam score six percentage points higher than those who skipped at least one assignment.
Did students like using MyLab Into to Business?
Responses from the Spring 2018 end-of-semester survey of Brooks’s students indicate that the majority of responding students recognize the value of MyLab Intro to Business.
- 87.5% of respondents agreed that their understanding of the course material increased as a result of using MyLab.
- 87.5% of respondents agreed that MyLab homework assignments positively impacted their quiz scores.
One student said:
“[The benefit of MyLab] was being interactive, especially for an online course. I believe the content made sense and was broken up in ways that allowed it to keep my attention and be impactful.”
Learn more about how MyLab Intro to Business could benefit your course
