Riverland FlexPace™:A Mastery-based Business Certificate Pilot Program

Deb McManimon, Ph.D.J.C. Turner, Ph.D.

Overview

• Perfect Storm• Mastery-based Education• Pilot Solution• Outcomes and Achievements• Key Lessons and Next Steps• Questions

Perfect Storm

The Documentation Need

• ACBSP accreditation• Outcomes to document for ACBSP• Used D2L Brightspace Competencies

Tool• Not all students master all outcomes

The Workforce NeedEducation that Works for Working Adults• By 2020, 74% of jobs will require post-secondary

education• Only 44% of workers have some post-secondary

education• In rural Minnesota, these numbers are

significantly lower

Minnesota’s workforce snapshot: over 900,000 underemployed

228,000 Food Service $ 9.21/hour270,000 Sales (cashier, clerk, etc.) $13.24/hour409,000 Office/Administration $17.27/hour

It took me a few years to go back to school.

I’ve had to withdraw from classes in two previous semesters due to life events.

One of my good friends didn’t go back to school because of the obstacles—it seems to be impossible to pull off being a mom, a student and a provider.

It would be so helpful to focus on one class at a time.

Shark Tank slide

What is Mastery-based Education?

Bloom, Benjamin. "Learning for Mastery." Evaluation Comment 1.2 (1968): n. pag. ERIC. Web. 27 Jan. 2017.

Benjamin Bloom, University of Chicago, Mid-1960s• Investigated wide variations in student learning

outcomes• Theorized that given appropriate time and

learning environment almost all learn well• Current model of teach, assess, move on

resulted in many students not achieving success• Learning for Mastery phrase used to identify

new learning strategy• Includes feedback and corrective action

Differences with Mastery-based Model

Prior Learning

Doesn’t matter

Demonstrate and move

onMotivation

Traditional Mastery-Based* Can Increase:

Timeframe Set weeks As quickly as mastered Retention

Resources Same for all Alternate paths & resources Completion

UnderstandConcepts

Move oneither way

Must master to move on

Subject Mastery

Course load Multiple classes at once

One class at a time

Focus

Pilot Solution

The Pitch

• Limited to existing 22-credit Business Certificate• Small cohort• Only working adults• Identified measureable outcomes

Benefits of Riverland Pilot

For Learners•Creates a pathway for underserved•Rewards prior learning•More flexible pace•Provides greater flexibility•Better focus - 1 course at a time

For Employers•Better prepared workforce•Workers skills meet future needs•Better fit for today’s economy•Greater employee satisfaction

For Riverland•Increased retention•Better competitiveness•High quality maintained•Serve more learners•Improved design and delivery

For Minnesota State•Receives a tested model•Expands opportunities to underserved

markets•Reduces the achievement gap•Aligns with Charting the Future goals

Funding

Mastery-based Course Redesign

Accelerated online format- 6 week schedule

Sequential courses within a term

Ability to demonstrate prior knowledge

Alternate pathways for if mastery not initially achieved

Flexibility

Multiple Ways to Mastery - 3 Paths to SuccessPath 1: Course level – theory and application • Master - course complete• Not at Mastery - move to Path 2

Path 2: Unit level theory and application –• Master – next unit • Not at Mastery - move to Path 3

Path 3: Chapter level theory and application –• Master – next chapter• Not at Mastery - alternate course material and

activities

Content Release

Supplemental Content Release

Conditional Release - Announcements

Intelligent Agent

Competencies

How We Revamped Ancillary Processes

Marketing Admissions Advising Financial aid Registration

Outcomes & Achievements

Mastery in Outcomes - Proposed 50% Increase

Certificate 15-16 Certificate 16-17 FlexPace 16-170%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

59% 55%

99%

Outcomes Met

Outcomes AchievedRegular Intro to Business Course FlexPace™ Intro to Business Course

Number of Students- Proposed 25% Increase

2015-16 2016-170

5

10

15

20

25

30

Certificate Majors

Retention- Proposed 25% Increase

Successes and On-going Challenges

• Term structure• Screening?• Support for learners

• Great interest from working adults • Great interest from employers• Students’ feedback• Cohort is working well

Key Lessons andNext Steps

Key Lessons

• Process – take some time to REALLY think it through• Enthusiastically embraced by administration and

academic support areas (counseling, advising, student services, etc.)• Course redesign can benefit all courses• HLC non-term requirements if you go true CBE• Challenge of the ERP and business processes• Students’ baggage from prior attempts at college• Challenge of involvement of multiple disciplines

Timeline and Next StepsSpring 16

Grant awarded

Fall 16-17Pilot starts3 courses

Spring 16-173 courses

Summer 16-17Pilot ends2 courses

Fall 17-18 AS Degree Begins

Spring 18-19 AS Degree Completed

Fall 19-20BS Partner

DegreeBegins

Fall 21BS Partner Degree

Completed

Graduate

Questions?