1. Adapt Courseware Releases Learning Outcomes Study, Demonstrating Higher
Student Completion, Retention, and Success Rates
Double Digit Increases Validate Effectiveness of Company’s Adaptive Learning Approach
Rochester, NY – March 4, 2013 – Adapt Courseware, the provider of comprehensive adaptive
online curriculum resources that individualize each student’s learning experience, has released
the results of the first in a series of outcomes studies that are underway measuring student
performance using the company’s adaptive learning methodologies. In this initial study, Adapt
Courseware compared learning outcomes in two separate online sections of Introduction to
Psychology at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC). In the first section, students used
Adapt Courseware’s online adaptive learning content, while students in the second section used
a high quality online comparison course that did not include adaptive features. The Adapt
Courseware section reported higher student completion, retention, and success rates.
“The measurable improvements we experienced in our adaptive learning section when evaluated
against our comparison section speak well of Adapt Courseware’s ability to engage and motivate
students,” said Dr. Mark Estepp, president of SWCC and member of the Virginia Community
College Reengineering Task Force. “We are always looking for new and better ways to help
students learn more effectively, while at the same time drive the outcomes that are so important
to our continued sustainability. Adapt Courseware’s results are quite compelling in this regard.”
For the Fall 2012 term, Adapt Courseware reported that students enrolled in the section using its
content had a 19% higher completion rate than the comparison section, as measured by the
number of students earning a letter grade of A through F at the end of the course divided by the
number enrolled at the add-drop deadline. Course success, defined as those students earning a
letter grade of A through C, was 30% higher. Re-registration rates, defined as students enrolling
in at least one course in the subsequent term, were 27% higher than the comparison group.
“We expected to see improvements in course completion rates based on our mastery learning
and motivational support principles, and it was extremely encouraging to see these results
translating into increased student retention rates as well,” said Dr. John Boersma, founder and
CEO of Adapt Courseware. “This indicates that by using a varied set of learning methodologies, a
student's overall perception of the college experience can change in a positive way and the
student can be inspired to keep on going. We look forward to releasing more results as our other
research studies with two- and four-year public and private institutions become available."
The comparison section included traditional online curriculum, including instructional videos.
While the comparison section had a high rate of student satisfaction and above-average learning
outcomes as compared to a national benchmark, the section using Adapt Courseware content
delivered an 11% higher student satisfaction rate, and student learning performance scores that
were 6% higher using a summative assessment based on the College Board's CLEP exam.
"I am so excited about Adapt Courseware’s approach to learning. It is an amazing example of
eLearning best practices brought together in a realistic and achievable way,” said Dyan Lester,
Director of Distance Learning and Instructional Designer at SWCC. “Because it touches on a
variety of learning modalities, including video, text, and multimedia interactives, students can
create their own learning strategies. The ability for students to choose not only when, but more
importantly how they learn really makes a difference in relevancy, student satisfaction, and
competency.”

2. As Adapt Courseware continues to pursue outcomes research studies, it has issued a Request
for Proposals for its Scalable Adaptive Online Learning Grant program to demonstrate
measurable learning outcomes on a large-scale. Institutions, departments, faculty members, or
teams of faculty members can obtain additional information by visiting
www.adaptcourseware.com/researchgrants/.
About Adapt Courseware
Adapt Courseware individualizes the learning experience for each student based on academic
abilities and needs. The company offers complete, customizable, adaptive online curriculum
resources that combine proven learning science with advanced multimedia techniques to help
students achieve mastery learning. With Adapt Courseware, colleges and universities can realize
measurable learning outcomes, increased student retention, and higher student satisfaction.
# # #
Media Contact:
Kristi Emerson
Adapt Courseware
303.885.9896
kristi@adaptcourseware.com