Voice of the Educator: How an Instructor Supports Student Success with MyLab Economics During Exam Time
Estimated time to read: 3 to 4 minutes.
By Angela Trimarchi (Wilfrid Laurier University).
For high-stakes exams like midterms and finals, Angela Trimarchi, an economics professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, turns to tools that help students not just study—but actively engage with the material.
“MyLab Economics is a great tool for helping students prepare for midterms and finals,” she says. “The Dynamic Study Modules give them a chance to actively test their knowledge and build confidence.”
Finals season is the time of year when students need all the support they can get. One thing that’s made a real difference in my course is MyLab Economics—especially the . These give students a focused, personalized way to review material, and I’ve seen firsthand how much they rely on it during high-stakes times like now.
Helping Students Prepare with Purpose
Beyond just reviewing notes or re-watching videos, MyLab Economics helps students actively engage with the course content. The Dynamic Study Modules adapt to what they’ve mastered and what they’re still struggling with. For my students, that means more confidence walking into midterms—and now, finals.
Practice That Reinforces Learning
I also assign nine graded homework quizzes through MyLab Economics. These quizzes are interactive, covering both conceptual understanding and practical applications like graphing. They offer students repeated, low-stakes opportunities to practice—while giving me insight into where the class might need extra attention.
Content That’s Clear, Cohesive, and Supportive
Another reason I keep coming back to app resources is the quality of the content. The textbook is clearly written, thoughtfully structured, and integrates seamlessly with MyLab Economics. That consistency helps students move between readings, quizzes, and study modules without losing the thread. It also makes course planning more straightforward on my end.
Looking Ahead: Excited for What’s Next
app continues to evolve its tools to support instructors and students. I’m particularly excited about the new AI-powered study tool recently included in MyLab. Personalized, real-time support like this has the potential to give students an even more guided and responsive learning experience whenever they need it—something I think will make a big impact in the future.
Backed by Research—and Real Results
This isn’t just anecdotal. I co-authored a research paper titled “Active Learning in Introductory Economics: Do MyLab Economics and Aplia Make Any Difference?” published in the International Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (iJOSTL). We found that students who used MyLab Economics saw a 2% average increase in their final grades. It’s a modest number with a meaningful impact—especially for those students who are right on the edge of a grade threshold.
Teaching with More Confidence
Using MyLab Economics has also improved my teaching experience. It’s easy to use and reliable, and it allows me to focus more on helping students learn than on managing logistics or tech issues. It’s become one of the most indispensable tools in my teaching toolkit.
MyLab is also available for a wide variety of courses. To learn more about how MyLab can support your course, you may connect with a app representative.