The software uses an algorithm based on each student’s transcript, combined with data from thousands of other students, to generate individualized course suggestions that are ranked on a five-star scale.
Think Amazon and Netflix recommendations but for college courses instead of movies or books.
Degree Compass in January was acquired by Desire2Learn.
Though the data released by the company doesn’t name the universities, Degree Compass was being trialed earlier this year at Nashville State Community College, Volunteer State Community College, the University of Memphis, and Austin Peay.
“We can absolutely feel the impact on our campus,” Denley said in May. “It’s a real victory to see that providing these extra layers of information has helped students. … It was a logical step for us to inform choices within a major and to show students which majors to select, which majors they’d thrive in.”
The analysis released by Desire2learn on Thursday suggests that can help shrink the attainment gap, the disparity between the educational performances of white, well-off students and minority or low-income students.
Degree Compass recommendations helped the four institutions begin to “close” this gap between groups of students in of differing socioeconomic status, race, gender and income, the Desire2Learn said.
“The data from the trials shows that when students from these groups use Degree Compass for course selection, the achievement gap is closed to a mere six percent,” said the company.
Follow Jake New on Twitter at @eCN_Jake.
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