Coding for
Learning
Edtech
CourseKata
Helping UCLA redefine the online textbook
The UCLA Psychology Department’s Teaching and Learning Lab created CourseKata to transform the relationship between educational research and implementation in the classroom. Led by Dr. Jim Stigler, Professor of Psychology at UCLA, the group aims to improve learning outcomes through the Better Book Project.
The Challenge
Education at all levels suffers from a disconnect between research into best practices and implementation in the classroom. First, it’s difficult to study practices in situ, as doing so would ideally involve randomly assigning individual students to different instructional inter- ventions.
Then, even when opportunities to apply newfound understanding of how to best serve students are identified, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to apply those findings in a timely manner.
The Solution
Stigler and the CourseKata team wanted to create a tool for statistics courses with dynamic content that could produce different versions for selected groups of students. This innovation would permit researchers to analyze the effects of different versions of the textbook and allow them to adapt the content to optimize learning.
Key features
In January 2019, after 6 months of work, CourseKata launched The Better Book Project with some of the following key design features:
- Integrating Technology from Multiple Services
Because there was nothing on the market to meet all of CourseKata’s needs, Edify spent the first three months of the design phase implementing different technologies to find the best possible solution for CourseKata. - Compatible with Multiple Content Management Systems
Edify ensured the project could be used on multiple learning management systems (LMS), including Moodle and Canvas. - Control and Experimental Groups
Edify ensured researchers could create base and variation groups for research comparison and analysis.
Technologies used
- PostgreSQL
- Java
- Spring Framework
- Hibernate
- Javaserver pages
- Html5
- Systems Administration Services
- AWS
- New Relic
- Bamboo (Continuous Integration & Build Server)
- Apache Tomcat
WHAT WE DID DIFFERENT
- Duis justo odio, sagittis id rhoncus ut, faucibus nec enim. Morbi ultricies nulla vitae ligula dapibus blandit.
- Duis justo odio, sagittis id rhoncus ut, faucibus nec enim. Morbi ultricies nulla vitae ligula dapibus blandit.
- Duis justo odio, sagittis id rhoncus ut, faucibus nec enim. Morbi ultricies nulla vitae ligula dapibus blandit.
THE IMPACT
Today, the Better Book Project has been implemented by 25 instructors at seven institutions. While the project is currently only focused on statistics courses, there are plans to use the platform for other classes to increase research opportunities for other disciplines.
This implementation was made possible by a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative DAF, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and led to both a grant from the California Learning Lab and additional CZI funding.
25
instructors implementing EdReady, at 7 institutions
Numerous
conferences and articles presenting the findings
ongoing process
Today, Edify continues to help CourseKata improve the Better Book Project and adapt it for use at different universities with different technologies.
CourseKata and the Better Book Project were essential to the development of Edify, as it was one of the first technological innovations they developed with a university team. Since they began their work with Stigler and the CourseKata team, Edify has used their wealth of experience to help universities and organizations like the UCLA Psychology Department’s Teaching and Learning Lab’s CourseKata team to transform their visions into technology platforms that dramatically improve research and educational outcomes.
Given the nature of our project, we are happy with the flexibility afforded by the ‘pay as you go’ contract
Jim Stigler
Professor of Psychology at UCLA
Javier and Diana help us to refine our requirements, suggest alternative strategies, manage our priorities, and then implement the work.
Karen Givvin & Jim Stigler
UCLA Psychology Department
