User Research to Support Effective Postsecondary Gateway Mathematics Courseware

Traditional gateway mathematics courses can be significant barriers to student success. Digital courseware—including materials such as textbooks, multimedia resources, and assessments in a structured platform—are ubiquitous elements of gateway courses. When tailored to student and faculty needs, digital courseware has the potential to effectively support student engagement and mathematics learning.

Purpose

The goal of the project is to better understand how to employ learning technologies to improve student outcomes and ensure that all learners and communities have the tools they need to thrive.

WestEd is conducting a user study to better understand the experiences and needs of faculty and students in using digital courseware for Calculus I, College Algebra, and Quantitative Reasoning. The findings from this study will inform the development of innovative digital courseware solutions for gateway mathematics to improve student access and outcomes.

Audiences Served

The user research will inform the future development of gateway math courseware and provide insights on what students and faculty need from digital learning tools and platforms.

Audiences include

• college faculty,
• college administrators,
• researchers, and
• math courseware developers.

Project Activities

WestEd will conduct user research with faculty who have taught Calculus I, College Algebra, or Quantitative Reasoning and with students enrolled in these courses.

The following deliverables will be produced:

• an ecosystem map to articulate the people, resources, and processes that help or hinder faculty and students’ engagement with educational technologies in mathematics teaching and learning
• student and faculty personas to typify the user archetypes and needs that math courseware solution developers must attend to in design
• student and faculty journey maps to understand the key milestones, mindsets, and challenges they face while using new math courseware solutions
• a comprehensive report of thematic findings on faculty and student experiences and perspectives.

This information will be used to inform the future development of course materials.

Project Director

Ann R. Edwards

Ann R. Edwards is Senior Director of Mathematics Education. She is a nationally recognized leader in mathematics education with over 30 years of experience in research and development in mathematics learning, instructional practice, teacher learning, curriculum development, and policy.

Funder

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Project Duration

May 1, 2024 – April, 30 2025