THE NEXT GENERATION COURSEWARE CHALLENGE
Inspiring the future of courseware built for impact and sustainability
WHAT WE BELIEVE
A college credential matters.
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is committed to increasing the number of low-income and first-generation students and students of color who earn a postsecondary degree or credential. Read about the initiative launched to support colleges and universities’ efforts to meet their students’ educational goals.
“It matters not only to me, but my family, because the majority of my family didn't get to go to college. And they want me to get a well-paid job to take care of myself. I also want to get a degree for myself, because not only do I want the job, I have a passion for the degree so I could be able to do the things my parents didn't get to do.”
“It matters not only to me, but my family, because the majority of my family didn't get to go to college. And they want me to get a well-paid job to take care of myself. I also want to get a degree for myself, because not only do I want the job, I have a passion for the degree so I could be able to do the things my parents didn't get to do.”
Dominique
Student at the University of Mississippi
Creating better learning environments
Seven providers were funded to build and enhance purpose-built software unlike anything available in the field. Explore common questions and tension points encountered over the course of this four-year grant.
Market-related decisions
Who is my customer-base? How do I position my product in this market?
“I really like that direct feedback and the software being able to assess my ability and confidence in the subject area. I'm able to then go back and review it as many times as I want. It's really rewarding to see direct results.”
“I really like that direct feedback and the software being able to assess my ability and confidence in the subject area. I'm able to then go back and review it as many times as I want. It's really rewarding to see direct results.”
Diamond
Student at the University of Mississippi
Product-related decisions
What are design considerations I need to make in order to best serve my customer?
“Typically, the classes that I'm not super engaged in are lecture-based with over 100 students. You just have to learn based on the way the teacher teaches the course. But with the courseware, there are a variety of learning tools to help you understand the concepts.”
“Typically, the classes that I'm not super engaged in are lecture-based with over 100 students. You just have to learn based on the way the teacher teaches the course. But with the courseware, there are a variety of learning tools to help you understand the concepts.”
Ayana
Student at Northern Arizona University
Customer-related decisions
How do I go about approaching and working with my customer?
“One thing I like about the courseware platform we use is that it is more affordable for students. Many of our students experience some type of financial difficulty. So for them to afford a $200–300 textbook with a $70 digital learning component is almost impossible if they take multiple classes every semester.”
“One thing I like about the courseware platform we use is that it is more affordable for students. Many of our students experience some type of financial difficulty. So for them to afford a $200–300 textbook with a $70 digital learning component is almost impossible if they take multiple classes every semester.”
Jianli
Business Instructor at Cerritos College
Advice for funders
How do I design an initiative that drives the greatest impact in this field?
“I had no idea what courseware was. I thought it was a means of having an online textbook. Once I actually got into it I found out it was way more than just an online textbook. I was pleasantly surprised by that.”
“I had no idea what courseware was. I thought it was a means of having an online textbook. Once I actually got into it I found out it was way more than just an online textbook. I was pleasantly surprised by that.”
Micaela
Student at Northern Arizona University