DegreePlanWorks

Classroom Replication

Each course attempts to replicate the classroom environment. The typical sequence of events in the classroom is for the instructor to assign a chapter of the text and at the next session deliver a lecture highlighting the various subjects in the chapter. Then the instructor assigns homework material consisting of exercises and problems which are discussed in class at the next class session. This is the typical sequence throughout the course. We have replicated this as you will see in the sequence of events associated with each chapter.

A course consists of the following:

  • Text. The text consists of approximately 90 pages that is stripped of all extraneous information. We have received numerous positive comments from students with respect to the text because of its clarity and conciseness. All of our texts are written by subject matter experts that are PhDs with one exception and that is our Business Law text which was written by an attorney. The first step in the course process is to read the first chapter of the text.
  • Key concepts. After you have read a chapter of the text you are presented with a few screens of key concepts. These key concepts are the very essence of the chapter distilled into 2 to 4 screens. The purpose of the key concept screens is to reinforce the text material.
  • Reading comprehension quiz. After reading the text and viewing the key concepts screens the next step is to take the reading comprehension quiz. The reading comprehension quiz consists of 10 to 15 questions on that particular chapter. Each question response receives extensive feedback whether you get the question right or wrong. We have spent many, many hours on this feedback because we realize how reinforcing it is to the student. In some instances, the feedback is as much as ½ to ¾ of the screen.
  • Exercises. The next step is to go through the exercises associated with this particular chapter. There are at least five exercises in each chapter and each exercise amplifies the material through fill in the blank, matching and true false questions. Once again there is extensive feedback associated with each question. These exercises are quite intensive and are a critical ingredient to learning each chapter.
  • Lecture. The next step is to listen to a lecture on the chapter. This lecture is approximately 20 minutes in length ( depends on the chapter). The lecture may be a voiceover PowerPoint or a talking head of the professor who wrote the course. The professor goes through each of the major subjects in the chapter and amplifies where necessary.
  • Practice quiz. The next step is to take the practice quiz that covers all of the subject matter in the chapter. This quiz consists of 10 to 15 questions with extensive feedback. It is very similar to the reading comprehension quiz except by this point the student understands the nuances of the subject matter which are presented in the exercises and the lecture.
  • Self-assessment quiz. The final step associated with the chapter material is to take the self-assessment quiz. The purpose of the self-assessment quiz is to determine your knowledge of the chapter. This quiz differs from the reading comprehension quiz and the practice quiz in that you are given 10 questions and are not given feedback until you complete the quiz. After you complete the quiz, the software reverts to the feedback mode. This feedback helps you to assess areas of strengths and weaknesses associated with the chapter material.

Final Examination

The final examination consists of 40 questions randomly drawn from a 500 question database and is not timed. The file exam is proctored by Respondus. The Respondus software consists of a lockdown browser and a camera.  The passing score for the final examination is 70%; however, you are permitted to take the final examination twice.

Customer Service Link

The customer service link is an opportunity for you to respond to DegreePlanWorks with any technical issues or questions about the course. Rarely does a student have a question, but if this occurs, he or she uses the customer service link.

Completion time

The completion time for the course is 3 to 4 hours per chapter. Therefore, a five- chapter course (and most of our courses are five chapters) consists of 15 to 20 hours. If you have any math or science in your background the completion time is closer to three hours versus four hours. On the other hand, if you do not have any math in your background, for example, an English major, it is closer to four hours to complete a chapter. We have very good data on these completion times because we have been in business for over 32 years and had thousands of students complete these courses. Thus, we feel very comfortable in saying that you can complete this course over a weekend. We are defining a weekend as two days of intensive study.