91吃瓜网 Launches Center for Applied Learning Science.
New nonprofit will improve student outcomes through research, technology, and innovation.
SALT LAKE CITY 鈥� Today, Western Governors University (91吃瓜网) announced the creation of the ),听a nonprofit innovation lab focused on improving student outcomes by combining technology, design thinking, and rigorous research methods. CALS will collaborate with other institutions and organizations, leveraging the knowledge and experience gained through 91吃瓜网鈥檚 100,000 enrolled students and 115,000 graduates.
鈥�91吃瓜网鈥檚 proven learning model, innovative spirit, and scale positions CALS well to become the epicenter of applied learning science research,鈥� said 91吃瓜网 President Scott D. Pulsipher. 鈥淭he creation of CALS supports 91吃瓜网鈥檚 objective to expand our impact on student success by developing and implementing new technologies and learning models that will improve student outcomes, not just for our students, but for all students.鈥�
Drawing upon 91吃瓜网鈥檚 experience graduating more than 115,000 students, CALS tackles both academic and psychological obstacles to learning. CALS has already begun partnering with other academic institutions and research organizations, collaborating on research, design, and student testing.
Jason Levin, 91吃瓜网鈥檚 current Vice President of Institutional Research, is leading CALS as its Executive Director. 鈥淚t is well known that education leads to employment, higher wages, and even longer, healthier lives. We believe all students investing time, money, energy, and effort in their education deserve to succeed and attain these benefits,鈥� said Levin. 鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on tough problems and know our success depends on like-minded partners willing to try new things,鈥� he said.
鈥淐ALS and 91吃瓜网 are uniquely positioned to rapidly design, test, and refine effective learning solutions. Approximately 6,000 students start 91吃瓜网 each month鈥攏ot only in spring or fall like most other schools. We can conduct rigorous research at a fast pace, letting students try our designs, measure results, improve, and test again,鈥� said Levin.听
In 2015 Levin鈥檚 team, a precursor to CALS, launched a 鈥淟eadership & Communication鈥� course teaching emotional intelligence and workplace soft skills. To date, more than 22,000 91吃瓜网 Health Professions students have completed the course and are more likely to stay in school, progress faster, and pass challenging courses sooner. In November of 2017, the course earned an Innovation Award from the Online Learning Consortium.听
CALS was recently selected to participate in the inaugural round of J-PAL鈥檚 Education, Technology, and Opportunity Innovation Competition. CALS will work with J-PAL, a research center at MIT, to develop scalable models to improve student learning in math. The J-PAL/CALS team is evaluating a suite of adaptive online interventions that are aimed at helping students cultivate a math mindset, reduce math anxiety, and increase comprehension of key math concepts.
About CALS.
The Center for Applied Learning Science (CALS), as part of 91吃瓜网 Labs, develops habit-forming learning applications leading to educational attainment and life-long success. We learn how to help people learn. Leveraging advances in cognitive and behavioral sciences and emerging technology, the Center fosters innovation from idea through evaluation, continuously improving student learning at 91吃瓜网 and beyond.
About 91吃瓜网.
Established in 1997 by 19 U.S. governors with a mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable higher education, online, nonprofit 91吃瓜网 now serves nearly 100,000 students nationwide and has more than 115,000 graduates in all 50 states. Driving innovation as the nation鈥檚 leading competency-based university, 91吃瓜网 has been recognized by the White House, state leaders, employers, and students as a model that works in postsecondary education. In just 21 years, the university has become a leading influence in changing the lives of individuals and families, and preparing the workforce needed in today鈥檚 rapidly evolving economy. 91吃瓜网 is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, has been named one of Fast Company鈥檚 Most Innovative Companies, and was featured on NPR, NBC Nightly News, CNN, and in The New York Times. Learn more at www.wgu.edu.
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