Best practices / De La Salle University - Dasmariñas

Engagement up, grades up — 4.4/5 rating on learning

Positioning learners for future success with engaging, gamified courses

header-de-la-salle-university

Honorable mentionDe La Salle University - Dasmariñas is driven by a core purpose: to cultivate individuals who deeply appreciate history and culture, empowering them to become engaged and contributing members of society.

We achieve this through a multi-faceted approach encompassing inclusive and responsive academic programs, impactful research initiatives, and meaningful community outreach.

“Learning, training, and education are not merely components of our strategy—they are the very foundation upon which our mission stands. We believe that continuous growth and development are essential for individuals to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to the world. This is where CYPHER Learning has become an invaluable partner.”

Roland Lorenzo Ruben, Professor

INDUSTRY

Higher Education

COUNTRY

Philippines

SIZE

Large

Previous user interface is being shown. New look launched in 2024.

The challenge

  • Needed a program that could scale with their online programs as they continued grow
  • Maintaining compliance with evolving educational standards and integrating diverse learning activities
  • Prioritized a system that would support interactive features to foster meaningful student engagement

Prior to implementing CYPHER, we faced several key pain points that were hindering our success and limiting our ability to deliver a high-quality educational experience. Our initial e-learning setup, reliant on local servers, presented significant scalability limitations. Early iterations of our online platform were essentially file-sharing systems, resulting in low participation and a less-than-optimal learning experience. Additionally, keeping our faculty up-to-date with rapidly changing e-learning technologies required significant ongoing training and development efforts.

The solution

  • Features boost student engagement and performance
  • Gamification increased engagement for both students and faculty
  • Data-driven insights optimize learning outcomes

Prior to CYPHER Learning, our learning environment lacked the interactive and engaging elements necessary to truly motivate and inspire our learners. Now, thanks to CYPHER Learning, we've created a dynamic and effective learning ecosystem.

Features

We've observed a strong positive correlation between the use of specific CYPHER Learning features and improved student performance. Features like forums, embedded photos in lessons, essay and dropbox assessments, and digital badges have proven particularly valuable. These tools not only boost engagement but also serve as reliable predictors of higher grades and improved learning outcomes. This data-driven insight allows us to continuously refine our pedagogical approaches and optimize the learning experience.

One of the most impactful changes has been the implementation of site-wide gamification for faculty training. By grouping departments into teams and awarding experience points (XP) and badges for completing training paths, we've created a healthy competitive environment that has dramatically increased faculty participation in professional development. The leaderboard feature, in particular, has proven to be a powerful motivator. Department chairs, seeing their team's ranking, actively encourage their faculty to complete training, driving a culture of continuous improvement. This simple yet effective gamification strategy has had a "priceless" impact on our faculty development initiatives. This has ensured our faculty are effectively utilizing the platform, maximizing its value for our students.

CYPHER has provided us with valuable data and insights into learner behavior and performance. This data-driven approach allows us to continuously refine our learning and training processes, ensuring we are maximizing the platform's potential and delivering the best possible learning experience.

“By leveraging CYPHER Learning features, we've not only improved learning outcomes but also fostered a more engaging and motivating learning environment for both students and faculty.”

Roland Lorenzo Ruben, Professor

The results

  • Seamless integration into teaching processes with 100% faculty adoption
  • Key features had a measurable impact on student engagement
  • Grades improved overall as a result of using CYPHER

Since implementing CYPHER, we've seen measurable improvements across key areas, directly contributing to a more effective and engaging learning environment.

Productivity - Near-universal faculty adoption & continuous development

We’ve achieved near-universal faculty adoption of the CYPHER Learning platform, with nearly 100% of faculty actively using it since the 2020-2021 academic year. This high adoption rate underscores the platform's seamless integration into our teaching practices and the effectiveness of our ongoing technical and pedagogical training programs. This widespread adoption translates to increased efficiency in course management, communication, and assessment.

Learner engagement - High-impact features driving positive experiences

Our data reveals consistently high ratings for the impact of key CYPHER Learning features on learning. On a scale of 1 to 5, features like discussions, quizzes, and essays received mean ratings of 4.57, 4.54, and 4.51, respectively. The overall mean rating for the impact of CYPHER Learning features on learning is a strong 4.19, indicating a highly positive impact on the student learning experience. This demonstrates that CYPHER Learning is not just a platform, but a catalyst for meaningful engagement.

Performance - Measurable improvements in learning outcomes & grades

Perhaps the most compelling evidence of the impact of CYPHER Learning is the measurable improvement in student performance. The platform’s effectiveness in achieving learning outcomes received a high mean rating of 4.40. Furthermore, rigorous regression analysis (R Square = 0.733) demonstrates a strong positive correlation between the use of specific CYPHER Learning features (forums, embedded photos, essays, dropbox assessments, and badges) and improved student grades. This strong predictive power confirms that the platform is directly contributing to student success.

Positive user experience & high satisfaction

We've also measured the overall user experience with CYPHER Learning using the Net Promoter Score (NPS). Our score of +31 indicates a positive user experience and high satisfaction among our users, reflecting the platform's user-friendliness and its positive impact on the overall learning environment. This is particularly important as a positive user experience encourages continued engagement and adoption.

CYPHER Learning has not just changed how we teach; it has transformed what our learners are capable of achieving. By fostering critical thinking, digital fluency, collaboration, and enhanced knowledge retention, CYPHER Learning has empowered our learners to excel academically and develop the essential skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.

“In today’s digital world, CYPHER Learning is the Way. CYPHER Learning has not only met the demands of today's digital learning environment but has also positioned us for future success by fostering innovation and enhancing the learning experience.”

Roland Lorenzo Ruben, Professor

Want to be featured as a CYPHER Best Practice?

We'd love to hear from you. Just click on the button and send us some quick details. Our team will be in touch soon!

tell-us-yours
Are you ready to see CYPHER Learning in action?

false De La Salle University - Dasmariñas De La Salle University - Dasmariñas De La Salle University - Dasmariñas 4.4/5 rating on learning outcomes “In today’s digital world, CYPHER Learning is the Way. CYPHER Learning has not only met the demands of today's digital learning environment but has also positioned us for future success by fostering innovation and enhancing the learning experience.” Roland Lorenzo Ruben, Professor