Case Study: Oregon State University Boosts Student Engagement with Top Hat

Oregon State University - Customer Case Study

Oregon State University professor Demian Hommel wanted to move beyond a one-size-fits-all, lecture-heavy approach and find a better way to engage students in large geography classes. With students distracted by devices and traditional publisher materials feeling limiting, he turned to Top Hat to create more interactive, meaningful learning experiences.

Using Top Hat’s app-based response tools and interactive textbooks, Hommel added multimedia content, live questions, discussion boards, and in-class participation opportunities that helped students connect course concepts to the world around them. The results were strong: 208 of nearly 230 students said Top Hat improved engagement, over 90% felt more connected to the learning community, and student evaluation scores rose from 5.4 to 5.8 out of 6.

Oregon State University

Demian Hommel

Senior Instructor, Geography, Environmental Sciences and Marine Resource Management