Richard Bland College Earns National Digital Learning Innovation Award
Richard Bland College of William & Mary has earned the 2017 Online Learning Consortium’s (OLC) Digital Learning Innovation Faculty-led Team Award for advancing undergraduate student success through the adoption of digital courseware. Richard Bland was one of three institutions and ten faculty-led teams selected in year two of the competition.
One of the most widely recognized barriers to college completion is developmental coursework—especially remedial mathematics. As a result of Richard Bland College’s bold vision of 100% student success, the College’s math faculty altered the traditional instructional approach to developmental math by implementing the use of a web-based adaptive learning program that provides individualized learning pathways to students enrolled in developmental coursework. Since implementation of the pilot in 2016, RBC has seen increases in first-time pass rates in developmental math courses.
“Richard Bland College’s mission is focused on preparing students for university transfer, and we embark on initiatives such as this one in order to impart momentum towards graduation to all of our students,” said Dr. Matthew Smith, Associate Professor of Mathematics. “This $10,000 award will contribute to RBC’S continued efforts to reach the goal of 100% student success. Congratulations to the math faculty for its efforts on this project.”
“The mission of the OLC DLIAwards is to discover student-centered active learning solutions that advance the world of digital learning for all students,” said Kathleen Ives, D.M., CEO and executive director of the Online Learning Consortium. “The awarded projects in this year’s competition truly support this mission and serve as valuable models that other institutions can emulate as they embark on their own digital courseware initiatives.”
About the Digital Learning Innovation Awards
The Online Learning Consortium’s Digital Learning Innovation Award competition recognizes exemplary faculty-led teams and institutions for advancing student success through the adoption of digital courseware. The award program is funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Postsecondary Success Program. More information about the DLIAwards is available at https://onlinelearningconsortium.org/about/olc-awards/dlia/.
