Author: Name Joseph Charleman
Joseph Charleman is the Chair for the Surgical Tech and Processing Department at Berkeley College, NJ. MindTap is integrated in Blackboard program-wide, including Surgical Tech and Pharmacology.
Joe has seen a dramatic improvement in their retention rates – up from 20% to 50% in the last few years. He attributes this increase to MindTap’s ability to engage their students.
Students should complete assignments before class
MindTap homework assignments are required for students before they attend class. This allows instructors and students to have a better understanding of the learning objectives of each chapter. This allows for better use of class time, as students ask more questions, instructors have more time to answer them, and they can discuss how the key concepts in the chapter relate to the allied healthcare experiences they will encounter on the job.
Quickly identify the students who need help
MindTap’s graphical activity tracking helps students identify students who aren’t following through with assignments or who score poorly on learning objectives. Faculty double-team with advicement to help these students succeed.
Take advantage of unique course activities
Joe enjoys case studies that open and close chapters. These case studies are real-world experiences that link back to the core concepts in the chapters. These opening scenarios engage students in the content and allow for interaction between faculty and students. They are also used to alert instructors to students who are struggling or falling behind in the chapter content.
Deliver content in new ways
Joe found it easy to share his annotations with his students in MindTap reader. He has also added podcasts to the pages. Joe also uses ConnectYard to post current events and receive student responses, which count towards his participation grade.
The Results
Joe found that both students as well as faculty embrace this interactive teaching method. Their improved retention and student satisfaction surveys support his findings.