"Mastering Fuels Better Learning"

Video Transcript

Video Speakers

  • Shawn, Macauley, Ph.D., Professor, Anatomy & Physiology, Muskegon Community College
  • Maxwell Olmstead, Student, Muskegon Community College
  • Olivia Husmann, Student, Muskegon Community College

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: The first day of class is really interesting. I can see a lot of fear in my students eyes. They’ve heard that anatomy and physiology is a tough course, and it absolutely is.

It’s not that any one concept is that difficult. It’s that there’s so much material. And that’s where I think giving my students the tools that they need is so important.

Maxwell Olmstead: There was a lot of work required for this course, not only from the online homework assignments, but to the studying. And then we’re required to memorize all the muscles and bones in the body within two weeks. And just the intense workload — it kind of throws you for a loop.

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: I have students with tremendous aspirations — going for pre-med, physicians assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental hygiene. And so I need to give them very effective ways of studying the material. So that’s really where Mastering A&P and all the Mastering programs come into play.

Olivia Husmann: I was homeschooled my whole life. So, coming to college and having a teacher present the materials to me in their own way and telling me what to study — it was really eye opening.

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: Students have changed their study skills. They’re going from books and learning material from the written word to videos and online activities. Online technology and online homework has become not a supplemental part of my course, but an absolute integrated and required portion.

One of the critically important aspects to Mastering for me, is that nearly everything is customizable and I can assign it, and hold my students accountable to doing that work.

Olivia Husmann: My first semester that I took biology, I was working 20 hours a week and I was taking 4 classes, and there were times when I would leave my textbook at home. But if I had my laptop, if I had my tablet, or even my phone — through the Mastering site there is an electronic textbook.

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: One of the real benefits to using Mastering is that I am able to look at how my students are doing at any particular set of questions. I can quickly identify the areas of concern, and then I can start my next lecture or my next presentation focusing on those areas that were trouble, and knowing with confidence which things they have already mastered.

Maxwell Olmstead: Studying from a regular textbook doesn’t give you a right or wrong answer. You can’t really check your answers as well, or really know if you understand something. Mastering provides the opportunity to tell you what’s wrong and why it’s wrong.

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: Since adopting Mastering, I have seen my students' success rates increase. They’re coming to class now ready to discuss what they’ve learned, and now to apply it in a meaningful way.

Maxwell Olmstead: It’s looking like I’m going to finish with an A due to using Mastering. So I’m looking forward to being a physical therapist with all the knowledge I need to have to help other people in the future.

Olivia Husmann: Mastering definitely made me a better student. It helped me explore by opening my mind, and to supplement where I felt I was lacking.

Shawn Macauley, Ph.D.: Not only are my students making a higher grade, but with that higher grade is coming greater success. Greater mastery. Better retention of the materials. So the number of tools available to me only make me a better professor. And that’s what it’s all about.

Wherever learning flourishes, so do people.

Learn more at pearsonmylabandmastering.com