Case Study: California State University, San Bernardino reduces DFWI rates in Public Speaking with Top Hat

California State University, San Bernardino reduces DFWI rates by 3% with Top Hat

California State University, San Bernardino sought to improve student and instructor preparedness in its large public speaking program, which taught over 2,600 students annually. Challenges included a lack of student engagement with a legacy print textbook, a need to better support inexperienced graduate teaching associates (GTAs), and a high 14 percent DFWI (drop, fail, withdrawal, incomplete) rate. The university partnered with vendor Top Hat to address these issues using its interactive eText.

Top Hat implemented its Inclusive Public Speaking interactive eText, which featured customizable content, low-stakes formative assessments, and diverse examples. This solution reduced exam anxiety, increased student pre-class reading, and provided GTAs with a foundation for classroom activities. As a result, Top Hat helped reduce the course's DFWI rate by 3 percentage points, meaning 46 fewer students received a DFWI grade in the comparison period. Faculty also reported higher levels of student engagement and active learning.

California State University, San Bernardino