Pilot Program to Assess and Report Results of Pooled Data to Help
Improve Retention and Learning Outcomes of Online Students
CHARLES TOWN, W.Va., May 19, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
American
Public University System (APUS) today announced that VP of Research
and Development Dr. Phil Ice will take a leadership role as principal
investigator for the Predictive Analytics Reporting Framework (PAR)
project, initiated by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher
Education's Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET). The news
follows an April 11 APUS announcement of its receipt of a related
analytics research grant from Next
Generation Learning Challenges.
PAR will explore the patterns derived from considering six distinct
datasets as a single, unified sample. APUS and the participating
institutions will pool more than 400,000 de-identified post-secondary
student records to assess factors impacting retention and learning
outcomes for online US college students, particularly those aged 26 and
under. Dr. Ice will oversee technical and analytical strategy, along
with continuation planning, for the pilot program.
PAR incorporates many of the best practices and award-winning predictive
analytical methods for which Dr. Ice has been recognized by the Sloan
Consortium, and the practices for which
WCET has recognized Dr. Vernon Smith of Rio Salado College. APUS's
predictive analytics platform will serve as a foundation for
constructing the project's pooled data analysis methodology.
"This project breaks new ground in bringing together a cross section of
institutions committed to working transparently with one another and
sharing the results of their work openly within the education
community," said Ice. "We seek to collectively identify actionable
patterns around what unique environmental factors influence student
retention and learning outcomes and use those results to help inform and
improve decision-making."
WCET has assembled a collaborative team of innovative institutions
representing a cross-section of community colleges, state and
proprietary institutions who are already exploring or implementing
analytics or predictive analytics projects on their own student data. In
addition to APUS, the participating institutions include Colorado
Community College System, Rio Salado College, University of Hawaii
System, University of Illinois - Springfield and University of Phoenix.
"By identifying patterns of performance, we believe we can create an
approach to applying predictive analytics in practice that will help
practitioners and students alike spot barriers to success before they
become problems," Ice added. "We can also focus attention on identifying
variables that predictably and reliably improve student achievement,
particularly in traditionally underserved populations, and ultimately
help improve persistence, progress and completion rates among
post-secondary students in the US."
About WCET
The WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies (WCET) is a
cooperative, membership-driven, non-profit provider of solutions and
services that accelerate the adoption of effective practices and
policies, advancing excellence in technology-enhanced teaching and
learning in higher education. More information about WCET's
institutional membership resources, services and common interest groups
can be found on WCET's website, wcet.wiche.edu.
About American Public University System
American
Public University System, winner of the Sloan Consortium's 2009
Ralph E. Gomory Award for Quality Online Education and two-time
recipient of Sloan's Effective Practices Award, offers 79 online degree
programs through American
Public University and American
Military University. APUS's relevant curriculum, affordability and
flexibility help more than 90,000 working adults worldwide pursue
degrees in subjects ranging from homeland security to management and
liberal arts. For further information, visit www.apus.edu.
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SOURCE: American Public University System (APUS)
American Public University System (APUS)
Brian Muys, 703-334-3225
bmuys@apus.edu