Students face numerous barriers to learning. Many are external factors outside of anyone’s control; but some—such as unproductive study behaviors or mental rigidity—can be overcome. Students can be taught or coached to change their behaviors.
James Folkestad, professor in the School of Education and director of the Center for the Analytics of Learning and Teaching, designed U-Behavior™ to enhance students’ understanding of their learning practices. Over the last four years, the software has helped nearly 2,000 Colorado State University students each semester increase their grades by an entire letter. Folkestad looks forward to making the software available at more universities.
U-Behavior™’s inception stems from Folkestad’s work on an Intelligence Advanced Research Project Activity (IARPA) grant, with which he explored cognitive biases through a game-based environment. Inspired by the research of Daniel Kahneman, a well-known psychologist, Folkestad concluded that behavior change is a crucial component of cognitive processes, including learning. In order to build durable learning—the ability to understand and retain information over time, rather than simply memorizing for a short term (like for a test)—individuals must change their practice behavior.
“Learning is behavioral,” Folkestad emphasizes. “In order to learn, you have to behave in certain ways.”
U-Behavior™ operates like a Fitbit for studying, giving students real-time feedback on their study habits. This self-directed tool integrates with the Canvas learning management system, allowing students to track their practice behaviors and identify when they need to revisit and refresh course material. With a participation rate of about 75 percent, the program empowers undergraduate students to develop effective study routines over a 16-week semester.
And students aren’t the sole beneficiaries of the program. Faculty members are gaining insights into students’ practice activities through U-Behavior™, which enables them to tailor their teaching strategies to enhance learning. The impact of U-Behavior™ is particularly evident in the Principles of Human Physiology course, in which the software has helped nearly 100 students avoid failing grades.
“There’s a lot of students who struggle, and that’s who I originally designed the program for,” Folkestad shares. The program encourages students to become aware of their learning capabilities and demonstrates for them how consistent practice improves retention, yielding enhanced performance on comprehensive exams.
Through U-Behavior™, Folkestad is transforming education at CSU and paving the way for a brighter future for students who understand practical study behaviors have an impact on their ability to learn and perform. Learn more about U-Behavior™ and Folkestad in his innovator profile at csustrata.org/meet-our-innovators/james-folkestad-phd.
Folkestad will join a group of CSU innovators for a panel discussion on the importance of driving social change through innovation on Oct. 10 at the Richardson Design Center. Learn more about this free event and register to attend at csustrata.org/workshops-and-events.