Case Study: Macquarie University boosts student engagement with Top Hat Textbook

Increasing Engagement in a Research Methods Course at Macquarie University with Top Hat Textbook

Macquarie University, a public research institution in Sydney, wanted a better way to engage students in its Introductory Psychology research design component. Senior Lecturer Dr. Mem Mahmut felt the existing hard-copy textbook was wasteful, costly for students, and made it difficult to know whether students were actually reading and learning the material. The university turned to Top Hat, using its Textbook product to improve independent learning and sustainability.

With Top Hat Textbook, Dr. Mahmut and his colleagues customized and re-sequenced the digital content to match the course flow and embedded quizzes directly into each chapter so students could immediately check their understanding. Top Hat also supported free student access through its Free Access Zone program. The result was stronger engagement: students began referencing readings and quiz responses in emails and discussions, and Dr. Mahmut reported that more students were willing to buy and use the text than before.

Macquarie University

Mem Mahmut

Senior Lecturer, Department of Psychology