Information Technology Administrator's Instruction Manual for the Personal Academic Strategies for Success (PASS) Tool, With Subcomponent Academic Class Composite Tool (AC2T)

This report is based on a series of investigations conducted to reduce academic attrition among U.S. Army Health Care Specialist (68W) students in Advanced Individual Training (AIT), which include performance influences in technical-level health care training; focus group opinions and questionnaire responses on content and format from 68W instructors and students; peer and self-assessments from 68W students who failed and passed; and usability assessments and research evaluations of the effectiveness of a resultant tool. The Microsoft Access based Personal Academic Strategies for Success (PASS) software tool was conceptualized and created by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Army Medical Department Field Element to help reduce academic attrition. Students take a computerized survey and receive personalized feedback on strengths and weaknesses, along with recommendations on building strengths and mitigating weaknesses. Pertinent information was generated through evidence-based research and statistical regression modeling with data from 579 68W AIT students. The same tool contains a subfunction, the Academic Class Composite Tool (AC2T), which provides instructors with feedback on their class as a whole. AC2T is based on student self-assessment data and suggests how cadre can proactively intervene to enhance academic achievement. Early feedback allows students and cadre to make positive adjustments. This report delineates the material necessary for the Information Technology Administrator. The original document contains color images.