A Case Study of Amarillo College

Integrating Adaptive Tools into Course Redesign

Faculty at Amarillo led efforts to implement adaptive courseware into redesigns of introductory math, English, and chemistry courses which included corequisite courses in each discipline.  These efforts were supported by the college’s Center for Teaching and Learning, which provided instructional design support and integrated adaptive technology into faculty learning cohorts.  Much of Amarillo’s work was centered within corequisite support classes paired with college-level courses as part of broader course redesigns in several disciplines. The college also worked with adaptive publishers to develop new courseware focused on adult learners and GED requirements.

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is one of 12 higher education and digital learning organizations that make up the Every Learner Everywhere (Every Learner) Network, whose mission is to help higher education institutions improve and ensure more equitable student outcomes through advances in digital learning, particularly among poverty-impacted, racially minoritized, and first-generation students. Every Learner partners are addressing high failure rates in foundational courses through the provision of scalable, high-quality support to colleges and universities seeking to implement adaptive courseware on their campuses. As part of its ongoing effort to help community colleges develop effective teaching and learning practices, ATD is working with seven community colleges in Florida, Ohio, and Texas on this initiative, providing coaching and direct support to the colleges, fostering collaboration within and among the participating institutions, and serving as a liaison to the Every Learner network.

This case study of Amarillo College is part of a series of studies conducted by ATD examining how adaptive courseware is being implemented at those institutions, as well as how courseware is used in particular disciplines to better serve students. Case studies are based on a series of interviews with college leaders, faculty, instructional designers, developers, technology specialists, and students who were enrolled in classes using the courseware.