Dive Brief:
- The NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering gave its pre-registration webinar a makeover, using gamification to create a more engaging product that students can access whenever is most convenient for them.
- Campus Technology reports proportionally more students completed the tutorial more quickly than their peers under the old model, which gave advisers a jump-start on follow-ups that depend on students to make initial course decisions.
- Having set content rather than live webinars also freed counselors up to do other advising work over the summer.
Dive Insight:
School of Engineering program leaders first looked for outside help in creating the gaming environment for the tutorial, but found that option too expensive. The school used in-house talent, tapping graduate students with the right skills and motivation to use them.
Similarly, an Old Dominion University student designed an app to keep students on track in coursework that could reap significant gains for the university. Looking internally for the next big idea is a money-saving option for universities.