If one wishes to assess critically contemporary culture, I

believe that there will be widespread agreement that words

like “milestone,” “historic,” and “defining moment” are quite

overused, sometimes to the level of cliché. In the

celebration of our Founders Day, these words, in their

truest sense, were apt descriptors.

Communities rarely, if ever, pause to commemorate the

work that is accomplished daily, the struggles that led to

goals achieved, or acknowledge and thank in a very public

way the contributions and leadership of those who divined that which needed to

be done to found a college. On Sunday, October 12th, the Beacon community

gathered together to engage in just such an endeavor. Much planning and many

hands went into the creation of an appropriate celebration of our history, our

values, and the people upon whose shoulders much of the early hard work was

thrust (see story on page 5).

Twenty-five years is a considerable run for any organization, although, admittedly,

we may be viewed in a higher education arena as something of an upstart. That

which has been most impressive to me in the early years of my presidency is just

how much has been accomplished by a relatively small community of devoted

educators and families. We have remained faithful to our core mission and, in so

doing, we have established traditions and cultural patterns that, with our resulting

student outcomes, others in the higher education community wish to emulate.

And so we thank our Founders, so designated on October 12th: Ms. Kim Baggett,

Mr. Sam Battaglia, Ms. Deborah Brodbeck, Dr. Dan Coleman, Mr. John D’Addario,

Dr. Ron Dowdy, Dr. Marsha Glines, Dr. John Good, Mr. Peter Hough, Ms. Pat

Latham, Mr. Peter Latham, Ms. Eileen Marinakis, Ms. Sylvia Neill, Dr. Terri Ross,

Ms. Kay Timmeny, Dr. Debora Townley, Ms. Dianna Wade, Dr. Richard O.

Williams, and Dr. Vincent Ziccolella. But as each of these remarkable people will

acknowledge in their own right, they represent all who have, by their presence and

the devotion to cause, shaped all that we recognize Beacon to be today.

Well and proudly done, Beacon College!

A Presidential Note:

Well and Proudly Done, Beacon College!

Beacon

Navigator F A L L 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

Know Your World and Its Challenges. Chart Your Course and Succeed.

Gain. Learn. Grow.

President George J. Hagerty

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

A Message

from the Board

Chair

2

American

Heart

Association

Award

2

Beacon “On

the Air” 4

Parent Helps in

Recruiting

Efforts

4

Occupational

Therapy at

Beacon

6

Faculty

Highlight 6

New Human

Services/

Psychology

Organization

7

NACAC

“Home Run” 9

Legal Issues in

Education 10

Beacon’s

Cutting-Edge

Math Tech

11

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

Planning for the

Second QEP

Honoring Beacon’s

25 Year History

New Career

Development

Program

Campus Master

Plan

P A G E 2

The Annual Return to Beacon College

Two months have passed since the Beacon College campus once again celebrated the rite of passage of

return to school by eager students and energized Faculty and Staff. As reported by President George

Hagerty, fall enrollment numbers soared to a high never before seen. The College greeted new and returning

employees as well as first time and returning undergraduates. Beacon also enrolled transfer students, who by

now know that Beacon College offers its learners a unique opportunity to succeed, unlike any they previously

experienced.

To our student body, on behalf of the Beacon College Board of Trustees, I encourage each of you to make

the most of your experiences at Beacon. Stretch to reach achievements that you once thought to be

unattainable. Make new friends, learn from each other and join the multiple campus clubs and activities

which are as vital to your campus life and your personal growth as the formal

classes in which you are enrolled.

To our newly recruited Faculty and Staff, welcome to Beacon College. We

look forward to becoming acquainted with you. We trust that your tenure at

Beacon will be both challenging and rewarding. We are pleased that your

professional lives have brought you to our campus community. We eagerly

anticipate your contributions to the College’s curricular offerings and programs.

To our valued returning Faculty and Staff, the Board once again wishes to

express our appreciation and encouragement in your endeavors. Undoubtedly,

new demands are accompanied by new expectations. The Board Members are

well aware that more is being expected of you, as it is of us, and we are

confident that we together are equipped to step up to the challenges of a

growing and reinvigorated Beacon College.

Wishing each of you continued success during Academic Year 2014-2015,

Eileen Marinakis, Chair

Board of Trustees

Eileen Marinakis Board Chair

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Congratulations to the Beacon College Community for being awarded the distinction of becoming a Gold Fit-

Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association. Beacon is among an elite group of awardees for this

important initiative. In order to achieve Gold status, Beacon fulfilled criteria such as offering employees

physical activity support, increasing healthy eating options at work and promoting a

wellness culture. Requirements for Gold level achievement include implementing

physical activity, healthy nutrition, and a culture of wellness. As a Gold level award

recipient, Beacon has not only recognized the importance of a healthy workplace

for faculty and staff but has also taken important steps to create a culture of

wellness by providing support to employees. As a Fit-Friendly Worksite, we have

received both national and local recognition from the American Heart

Association. We are proud to have achieved this honor and look forward to

continuing our culture of wellness at Beacon College.

Contributed by Kimberly A. Baggett, Associate Vice President of Human Resources

Beacon College Awarded by American Heart Association

For accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges,

colleges are required to implement a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP). Beacon College’s first QEP was

entitled Enhancing Critical Thinking for Students with Learning Disabilities. A consequence of the QEP was

the development of Beacon College as a learner-centered institution with critical thinking as its core.

Impacting the entire campus climate, the QEP promoted improved reasoning ability within the student

body.

For the College’s second QEP, our Director of Life Coaching, Steve McDaniels, proposed that we focus

on improving students’ emotional and social intelligence. Research shows that, despite intellectual

potential and reasoning ability, many students, with or without learning disabilities, are at-risk because

control over their emotional and social lives is impaired. The proposed topic closely aligns with Goal #4

of the Beacon College Strategic Plan namely to cultivate the physical, mental, and social development of

our students. Mr. McDaniels’ recommendation received unanimous support from the Beacon College

community and consequently our second QEP will be initiated during the spring 2015 semester. Some

of the other happenings on campus that are promoting emotional and social intelligence include:

The Faculty and Staff Book Club selected Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman as the book to

examine in their book review series.

In Residence Life, Del Suggs, MS, Ed presented a Student Leadership Conference on campus on

September 19 and 20, 2014 with sessions entitled Power of Interpersonal Skills, Team Building, and

Interpersonal Skills and Conflict Resolution.

Our Occupational Therapy assistant, Emily James, hosts groups on socialization and

communication, self-esteem, and teamwork while promoting social and emotional intelligence

(read more about it on page 6).

In the Human Services and Psychology department a new course entitled Motivation and Emotion

was developed by Professor A.J. Marsden for the Spring semester to help launch the QEP.

In our Center for Student Success, Learning Specialist, Crystal Boone, is spearheading a bullying

prevention program.

In our Counseling Department, Dana Manzo is hosting anger management groups while Josh

Grover just completed a series of groups on meditation and self-control.

In Personal Development class, students performed random acts of kindness for others on

campus, which research shows promotes happiness and empathy.

In our Activities Department, Dye Dorough, promoted International Peace Day encouraging

faculty, staff, and students to make peace with others while building a human peace sign in the

lawn adjacent to Beacon Hall.

As you can see, we are ready College-wide to embrace our second QEP.

Beacon Implements Second Quality Enhancement Plan

P A G E 3 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

Contributed by Dr. Shelly Chandler, Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs

P A G E 4

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

From the moment I first met Maureen Hunstein (shown left), I knew she

not only was a tireless advocate for her daughter, Kristi, but also would

undoubtedly be a valuable asset for Beacon College. Maureen is definitely

one of the most educated and motivated individuals about connecting a

college like Beacon with professionals, organizations, and families she

knows can benefit.

Maureen alerted us to the Special Education Parent Teacher Association

(SEPTA) in Long Island, New York. Maureen then volunteered to assist

Beacon with recruitment outreach on Long Island. Maureen represented

Beacon College at the Oyster Bay Special Education College Fair on

October 1st. Maureen shared after her conversations with prospective

students and professionals, “Beacon College is really getting its name out

there. People are impressed with everything it has to offer.” Maureen will

also be distributing Beacon College information at Smithtown during Long

Island’s SEPTA meeting on

October 6th.

Thanks Maureen!

Beacon Parent Supports Recruitment Efforts Contributed by Dale Herold, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management

As Admissions recruitment for Fall 2014 was coming to an

end, my Aunt Lynn in Tampa invited Beacon College to

join her radio show, Talk Back Florida to discuss

Empowering Students with Learning Disabilities & ADHD for

Academic Success. Keeping Florida listeners informed every

Saturday, my Aunt Lynn talked to us about our individual

hurdles. We shared information about living and learning at

Beacon College. She aired time with President George

Hagerty, Dean Dale Herold, and past and present students

Jack Callahan, Michael

Huey, Heather Reed,

and myself. In pairs,

we all had a chance to

t a l k a b o u t o u r

experiences coping with

a learning disability and/

or ADHD, and how Beacon College works with and supports

students in this unique college environment. If you haven’t yet

listened to our comments, I highly recommend it. Please visit http://

www.newstalkflorida.com/talk-back-florida-empowering-students-with-learning-disabilities-adhd-for-

academic-success/ for a link to the audio playback.

Contributed by Andrew Marvin, Assistant Director of Admissions

Beacon College “On the Air”

Pictured left to right: Heather Reed, Dale

Herold, Andrew Marvin, Lynn Marvin

Dingfelder, Michael Huey, George Hagerty,

and Jack Callahan.

If you want to help out

Beacon College’s Admissions

Department in your area,

please call 855-220-5374!

Honoring Beacon’s Founders and 25 Year History

On Sunday, October 12th, at the conclusion of Parents Weekend 2014, Beacon College students and their families

along with staff, faculty, alumni, and friends and supporters of the College gathered at Lake Receptions in Mount

Dora, Florida to honor and recognize the initial founders and early visionaries responsible for developing the

Beacon of today. Beacon’s first Founders Day event corresponds with a year-long celebration of the College’s 25th

anniversary, making it an ideal time to celebrate a new first in its history while reflecting on the past and looking

toward the future.

President Hagerty opened the ceremony by recounting the significant strides made over the past quarter century

and providing a glimpse into the College’s promising future. Chair of the Board of Trustees Mrs. Eileen Marinakis

added a brief overview of the history of the College, remarking on the singular mission that has driven all who have

been connected with the College – from its founders to its current community of like-minded individuals planning

for the future. Marinakis noted, “Beacon College has been fortunate to be helmed by highly qualified educators,

innovative and visionary thinkers who remained true to the mission of the College while striving for future

development and growth.”

Author and former The Washington Post

reporter Gary Karton was the featured

speaker for this event, and he gave an inspiring

speech about his own experiences with

dyslexia and his growth as a writer. He shared

with the audience how being different is a

good thing and that there is no one right way

to do anything. Karton implored students to

find their own path and risk failure because, “If

you’re not afraid to fail, the possibilities are

endless…There’s nothing cooler than chasing

your dream.”

On this festive occasion, 12 honorees were

present to be recognized for their endeavors.

The honorees ranged from the founding

parents (accomplished attorneys Peter and Patricia Latham) to both the College’s founding and longest serving

Presidents, the longest serving staff and faculty member, and members of the Board of Trustees who have been key

contributors to the success of the College across the years.

The College was fortunate to have influential members of the Leesburg community, including Mr. Tim Sullivan, Lake

County Commissioner, and Mr. Al Minner, Leesburg City Manager, join the festivities and add brief but meaningful

comments to the ceremony. Ms. Prita Chhabra began the occasion with a beautiful rendition of the National

Anthem, and she provided a musical interlude by performing her self-written song, “Unstoppable.”

Commenting on the day’s ceremony, President Hagerty had this to say: “The celebration of the 25th anniversary of

the chartering of the College served as a very appropriate time to acknowledge and thank the visionaries and

architects of the College that we know and celebrate today. I believe that no one could have departed Founders

Day without being inspired and even awestruck by the devotion and hard work of the honorees.”

This event was generously sponsored by the Harper Family Charitable Foundation, Evergreen Construction

Management, and the Economic Development & Tourism Department of Lake County Florida.

Contributed by Gretchen Dreimiller, Director of Communications

P A G E 5 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

Honorees and guest speakers pictured left to right: Vincent Ziccolella, Dianna Wade, Kim Baggett, Debora Townley, Terri Ross, Tim Sullivan, Eileen Marinakis, Gary Karton, David Knowles, George Hagerty, Ron Dowdy, Deborah Brodbeck, Sylvia Neill, Dick Williams, and Pat and Peter Latham.

P A G E 6

B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

With Occupational Therapy now one of many support systems Beacon College has to offer,

students have even more assistance in meeting everyday challenges. Occupational Therapy provided

here at the College is designed to enable students to live their lives as independently as possible

including assistance with self-care, organization, time management, self-awareness, exploration of

personal interests, leisure activities, and more. This

academic year, Occupational Therapy is pleased to

offer its students a Life Skills group, which will focus on

areas such as meal preparation, budgeting, cleaning,

preparation for job or volunteer opportunities that may

arise, and community living. Occupational Therapy is

also offering a Social Skills group which will focus on

various social skills such as communicating effectively

and appropriately in various settings and situations, self-

awareness, and self-esteem. Occupational Therapy

places a premium on the progress of each student’s

goals, particularly those most meaningful to them, and

anticipates helping them find success!

Contributed by Emily James, Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapy Lends a Helping Hand

On September 11, 2014, Dr. Christopher Huff, Assistant Professor of

History, delivered a lecture at Columbus State University in Columbus,

GA entitled “Reporting the News, Making the News: The Great Speckled

Bird, Atlanta, and the Southern Sixties.” The CSU Department of

History and Geography invited Dr. Huff as part of an exhibition entitled

“The Great Speckled Bird and the Role of the Underground Press in the

1960s.” His lecture focused on the origins of The Great Speckled Bird,

Atlanta’s most prominent and successful underground newspaper, and

its role in creating and defending the city’s New Left and countercultural

community during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In addition to

authoring an entry about the Great Speckled Bird for the New Georgia Encyclopedia, Dr. Huff has

published several articles on the New Left and student movements in Georgia during the 1960s. He

is currently working on an annotated volume of Great Speckled Bird articles.

Contributed by Dr. Christopher Huff, Assistant Professor of History

Dr. Christopher Huff Sheds Light on The Great Speckled Bird

P A G E 7

In October, Beacon established a professional Human Services/Psychology organization complete with officers

and members to offer many benefits to students who will be part of this association. As members,

involvement, excellence, service and personal development are part of the day-to-day activities, which are

designed to offer assistance with career enhancement, communication skills, and most importantly, help in

preparing for a very competitive world after college, where emotional intelligence skills and experiences

gained from service as a proactive member of this organization are required. Benefits anticipated for

participants include:

Social Networking: The easiest and best way to network with students who have similar interests is joining

a student organization. It can assist with a career, hobby, or anything a person is passionate about doing.

Social Skills: Students will learn how to talk and relate to other people from different cultures and

backgrounds. Joining provides an opportunity to build these social skills.

Professional Experience: In joining this organization, students will be exposed to real world activities,

which will be of great advantage to personal development and emotional intelligence.

Personality Development: Being a member of this organization, individual communication skills will

improve by interacting with different people. Officers should expect to absorb even more as all learn how to

balance education and organizational work while focusing on goals.

Leadership Skills: By serving in different roles of this organization, a student may take on responsibilities or

challenges that lead and make a difference within Beacon College and the surrounding community. This

organization can assist in providing each one the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be a good leader.

Organization and Management Skills: Many of us are not familiar with how an organization works and

how to manage everything. Being part of this association affords opportunities to learn about fundraising,

finances, event promotion, and teamwork helping students in their future careers.

Resume Builder: Spice up a resume! Remember in high school, counselors advocating participating in sports

and after-school events as they look good on a college application. The same thing applies to job applications

after graduating from Beacon College. Being an officer or proactive member of this student organization is a

great way to get ahead of the competition.

Friendships and Fun: Life is not just about school, careers, or making money. It is about building friendships

and living the life each one of us desires. Getting involved on campus provides a chance to meet people and

build lasting friendships.

There is a big difference between attending a college and being a part of the College. Unfortunately, a

majority of students use college as a means to an end with the “end” being a piece of paper they can frame and

use as a direct means to a salary increase. Successful students see many other aspects of an education, and

this organization may provide an enormous addition to an accredited degree.

Officers were elected to serve October 20th and include Alexander Oard (President), Michelle David (Vice

President), Moni Jones (Vice President), Jessica Ball (SGA Senator), Yendise Collie (Treasurer), Antonio Myers

(Historian), and Lindsey Flax (Marketing).

Contributed by Dr. Richard V. Perrone, Chair, Human Services and Psychology

Enhancing the Beacon Experience

V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

P A G E 8

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

At Beacon, we recognize that earning a college degree is a major life accomplishment;

however, it is equally important that our students leave with a clear idea of what career

path is appropriate for them while turning their vocational goals into a reality. Because of

this, starting this semester, Beacon has instituted a

four-year Career Development program. Housed in

the Career Development Center is an instructor

who teaches three specialized career development

courses along with two other professional staff

members who are responsible for determining

internship placement while enhancing the skills

students learn in the classroom. Services there also

include individualized practice interview sessions

and career planning advice.

In their first year under this new model, students begin building a foundation for their

future, learning more about the characteristics, benefits, and potential drawbacks of their

learning disabilities as well as what major and career path match well with their personality,

goals, and learning style. By the second year, students should have a good understanding of

the major that will work best while exploring career options with that degree. A career

assessment is completed to ensure that the desired career goal is a good fit for the

individual student, and job shadowing provides students with an opportunity to see the

reality of working in that chosen profession. The third year is a time to prepare for the

senior internship. Students prepare their resume and cover letter, begin

setting career goals while planning to achieve them, and practice

interviewing and communicating in the work environment. The fourth year

allows students to bring all of the skills they have learned over the past

three years into practice in an actual employment setting when they

complete an internship. Feedback received from the supervisor proves

invaluable as students realize what their strengths and weaknesses are

according to a supervisor.

Internships are valuable experience for any college student as they provide a

chance to learn more with less pressure; it’s meant to be a educational experience.

However, one of the desired outcomes is that the internship will eventually lead to a paid

position. It is therefore with great pride that we announce that senior Andrew Field is the

first Beacon student to be accepted into the Disney College Program! This paid internship

will provide Andrew with beneficial work experience that will assist him in his future

professional development and could even lead to a management position with Disney.

Andrew is excited for this new opportunity, saying, “I feel this is going to benefit me and

the College because if I do a good job in the program, Disney will be more likely to accept

Beacon students in the future. I am excited for this opportunity and to be the first student

from Beacon to be part of it.”

Andrew will begin his internship in January 2015 and return to Beacon to complete degree

requirements for a projected graduation date of December 2015. We know that Andrew

will benefit immensely from this program, and we expect he will make the College look

great when he does an incredible job!

Continued on next page...

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s

Andrew on being the

first Beacon student

to be accepted into

the Disney College

Program!

President Hagerty with Andrew

Contributed by Gretchen Dreimiller, Director of Communications

Beacon Launches Career Development Program

Beacon “Scores a Home Run” at NACAC 2014

P A G E 9 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

Held in Indianapolis in mid-September, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

Conference brings together the entire college counseling community to focus on best practices and collaboration

between and among public, private, parochial, and

independent school counselors and independent educational

consultants. NACAC has over 13,000 members. This year’s

conference was attended by over 6,000 educational

professionals where Beacon served a significant role!

While colleges and universities are generally not permitted

to be an Exhibitor at NACAC, due to Beacon College’s

unique mission, the College was one of over 1,300

exhibitors. Showcasing at this event greatly enhanced

Beacon’s exposure. Prior to the conference, Beacon

launched an aggressive marketing and outreach campaign

encouraging educational professionals to visit Beacon’s booth

and learn

more about

the College’s outstanding student outcomes. As a result, the

Admissions team, represented by Stephanie Knight, Director of

Admissions, Rachel Masson, Northeast Regional Recruitment

Coordinator, and

myself interacted

with more than

4 0 0 c o l l e g e

counselors eager

to know more

about Beacon

College. It was an

overwhelming response that kept us busy long into the evenings!

The photos shown here are of the Exhibit Hall and activity at the

Beacon College booth. They depict the large crowds and provide a

snapshot of the many conversations held with college counselors

from across the country. In addition to exhibiting, Beacon College

gave a 45-minute conference session to approximately 50

educational professionals entitled: Learning Disabilities and

ADHD in a Post-Secondary World. The NACAC conference

also sponsors a college fair which attracts high school

counselors from the region. Beacon College spoke with 45

counselors. More than 1,500 colleges and universities were

represented.

Beacon College gained significant exposure at NACAC.

Already, many of the counselors who attended the

conference have asked our Admissions team to visit their

school. It was exhilarating to be a part of this terrific

experience that proved so successful for Beacon College!

Contributed by Dale Herold, Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management

Dale Herold and Rachel Masson at Booth 1108

View of the College Fair’s 1500+ College Reps

Presenters Stephanie Knight and Rachel

Masson

View of the Crowded Exhibit Hall

P A G E 1 0

T H E B E A C O N N A V I G A T O R

Contributed by Dr. Robert A. Bridgeman, Executive Vice President and In-House Legal Counsel

A community college in Connecticut (defendant) had banned a visitor from coming to the campus.

This decision was predicated upon the visitor (plaintiff) continually coming to the College library in

a sleeveless shirt in contravention to the College handbook. The visitor was told he was “too

disruptive and confrontational” as well. Upon the next visit, campus safety came and ordered him

to leave the premises. Later, a College official offered to meet with him to discuss the ban; he

refused the invitation. A letter was later sent informing him of his ban from the entire College

campus.

The visitor responded by filing a lawsuit. He claimed he was banned due to his dress and/or sexual

orientation. He further claimed he was subjected to unlawful sexual harassment. The visitor

amended his complaint to include violations of his First Amendment rights as well as the Equal

Protection Clause.

You Be the Judge: Who Wins This Case?

Answer:

To win a First Amendment rights case you have to show:

1. There is a First Amendment interest;

2. The defendant took action because that right was exercised; and

3. The actions of the defendant chilled the exercise of his First Amendment rights.

In this case, the plaintiff visitor did not clearly indicate what speech was protected. Not enough

information was presented to make a determination if his attire was the basis of the claim. On the

other claims, the court held there were not enough alleged facts to establish any violations;

therefore case dismissed – the College wins.

You Be the Judge: Legal Cases in Higher Ed

President Hagerty announced to the campus community at the beginning of the Fall semester, “healthy

enrollment growth should be preceded by thoughtful consideration of the programs and campus that

will define the College’s future. Therefore, this year, the College and our Board of Trustees will utilize

the counsel and expertise of the firm, Credo, the higher education leader in master planning, to chart an

ambitious, student-focused course for the future development of our campus and our undergraduate

offerings.” This “experience planning” and “master planning” effort will be undertaken over the course

of the entire academic year and will involve everyone – Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and parents –

in this process.

Therefore, we would like to announce that Credo will be visiting our campus, November 4-6,

2014. During this time, Credo’s team will collect information on space and place, including our

grounds, facilities, and interior spaces and begin utilization studies. Meetings will be held by the Credo

team with a Beacon Steering Committee and constituent groups including students. “Town hall”

meetings for all members of the community will also be arranged. The purpose of these sessions will

be to discuss our views of the current campus environment and to begin shaping our thinking about

the desired student experience!

The Beacon College Campus Master Plan

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E I V , I S S U E 1 V

The Beacon College Math Department utilizes the Math Emporium model in all classes. The current

national trend is to offer Mathematics classes online employing a computer program. The computer

program employed at Beacon (and hundreds of other colleges and universities) is called ALEKS, which

stands for “Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces.” It was developed by researchers at UC

Irvine, NYU, and the University of Brussels with grants from the National Science Foundation. The

program uses artificial

intelligence to determine which

topics a student has learned

and which topics the student is

ready to learn. Those topics in

which the student has already

developed competency are

added to the student’s list of

accomplishments. Students are

able to see their list of

accomplishments grow on a

daily basis.

Instructors across the nation

have seen student scores increase dramatically. Many students who have never done well in Math are

now earning A’s. Students report they feel empowered because they have more control over their

learning. Students can ask questions at any time. They can practice a skill as many times as they need in

order to feel confident. In addition to an increase in student scores within a particular class, Instructors

have found that student retention of material between classes has also increased significantly (according

to www.aleks.com).

Here at Beacon College, we have two Instructors as well as student tutors. Students have ample

opportunity to consult with professors or peers when learning new material. The Professors have

developed materials to augment the instruction provided by the computer program. Also, Professors

explain certain topics that students request at the beginning of class using an interactive whiteboard.

Color copies of these notes are provided to students upon request and are posted to the College

Learning Management System. Students can print notes from ALEKS on color coded paper. Many

students prefer to upload notes to their handheld devices and/or iCloud accounts.

At the end of the course, students have documented proof of the mathematics topics which they have

mastered. This establishes in concrete terms what students have learned. Many colleges and universities

across the nation employ this same computer program ensuring students at Beacon are learning the

same material as their peers enrolled in other educational institutions.

In addition to the work that students complete using the computer program, students engage in

teamwork and presentation activities. These activities are designed to strengthen student’s critical

thinking and soft skills. In an effort to “sweeten” the subject of math, a weekly estimation contest is

conducted. Students estimate how many pieces of candy are in a jar that is hand selected for its unusual

size or shape.

Beacon College Riding the Wave of

Cutting-Edge Higher Ed Math Technology Contributed by Sarita Cupp, Mathematics Instructor