Disciplines

When we opened up a live Q&A on the new Verilog and VHDL labs in Digital Design with zyLabs, the chat filled up fast. Instructors came with real classroom challenges, and the people who built the labs answered them directly. Lab authors and instructors Jay Brockman and Todd DeLong joined Daniel Leung, our senior content […]

The Artificial Intelligence zyBook gives upper-level STEM students a modern, hands-on introduction to AI, from search algorithms to large language models. At our recent webinar, instructors asked the authors what’s inside, who it’s for, and how to use it. Here are the five questions we heard most, with answers from the team who built it. […]

Michael Goldwasser details his teaching experience with Challenge Activities and suggestions to incorporate for your course.

By zyBooks Engineering Team Introduction Students are scoring perfectly on homework, then failing exams when they can’t use AI. They’re submitting polished problem sets without understanding the underlying engineering concepts. When you ask them to explain their approach, they can’t because they didn’t actually work through the problems themselves. Just as engineering programs eventually accepted […]

Faculty find success with zyBooks. See what three professors have to say about improving the experience for students and managing the work load.

Faculty find success with zyBooks. See what Transfer Pathway Coordinator has to say about improving the experience for students and managing the work load at MCC.

Teaching introductory programming at a community college isn’t just challenging—it’s a uniquely complex balancing act.
Here are five challenges that community college CS instructors face every day.

Cay Horstmann, author of Big Java: Late Objects, has taken a pragmatic middle-ground approach with new content designed to help both instructors and students navigate this complex landscape—wherever they are on their AI journey.

By Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy Introduction Engineering instructors face a persistent challenge right now: how do you write AI policies that actually support learning? Most policies are static, treating students working on their first problem the same as students who’ve built competence across the semester. Blanket bans prove unenforceable because students use AI anyway, just without […]

by Frank Marsaglia, Dan Goodman, and Dr. Babak Shoraka, zyBooks IT authors Your student completes a VLAN configuration lab following step-by-step instructions and gets 100%. The student can list the VLAN benefits: security, performance, management. Then comes the job interview: “Tell me when you’d recommend VLANs for a small business.” The Framework: A Three-Component Learning […]

By Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy, Dr. Adrian Rodriguez, Dr. Yasaman Adibi, and Dr. Gregory Mason Introduction MATLAB ranks among the top three requested programming skills in engineering job postings. Analysis of over 130,000 postings presented at the 2022 ASEE Conference confirms its continued relevance across biomedical, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering positions. Yet instructors teaching MATLAB […]

In November 2025, the zyBooks engineering team led a peer-to-peer workshop on Moving from Misconceptions to Intuition – Strategies for Teaching Probability & Statistics. This session covered common misconceptions (like equal probability bias and sample size misunderstandings) and research-backed strategies to address them; and hands-on activities and real-world applications that build intuitive understanding. The team […]

Jump to content you would like to see (click the 3 lines in the tool bar) Building Strong Data Wrangling Skills From the Ground Up: zyBooks Guide Data Science Blog Articles – https://www.zybooks.com/category/disciplines/data-science/

Teaching programming is challenging enough without the added complexity of managing group work. zyBooks has introduced a powerful feature in zyLabs that makes collaborative coding as seamless as individual work.

In October 2025, the zyBooks content team led a peer-to-peer Materials Science Workshop that explored two critical areas: addressing common student misconceptions and implementing collaborative learning strategies. The discussion highlighted how students often struggle with crystallography, phase diagrams, mechanical properties, and more—not because these concepts are inherently difficult, but because of specific, identifiable misconceptions. The […]

Computing Technology for All bridges theory and practice through real-world case studies. Most chapters wrap up with a concrete example that shows students how the concepts they’ve learned actually matter in the real world.

Many instructors using zyBooks combine CTFA with their Programming titles to fills in the gaps for introductory students.

By Dr. Ryan Barlow and Dr. Greg Mason Introduction You’ve seen it countless times: students solve manufacturing calculations flawlessly on exams, then design parts that are impossible to produce. They determine the correct extrusion pressure but can’t explain why material flows the way it does. They ace tolerance problems but specify features that would triple […]

When 50 engineering instructors gathered for our September 24, 2025 zyBooks workshop, we focused on a problem that costs us weeks of class time every semester: students who can solve thermodynamics and fluid mechanics problems perfectly but can’t explain what their answers mean.

zyBooks has taken a responsible approach that includes content and tools. See how we are empowering students and instructors with content and tools.

By Dr. Yasaman Adibi and Dr. Mohsen Sarraf Introduction: Addressing the Complexity of Modern Electrical Engineering Education Teaching electrical engineering presents unique pedagogical challenges that have only intensified as the field has evolved. Students must simultaneously master abstract theoretical concepts, apply sophisticated mathematics, and connect both to practical applications—all while developing the problem-solving intuition essential […]

Give your students the professional IDE experience they need while keeping the auto-grading features you love 📚 Why Jupyter Notebooks Are Game-Changers for Data Science Education As computer science and data science instructors, we’re always looking for ways to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice. While zyBooks’ Coding Rooms IDE serves many […]

As IT programs face increasing pressure to produce workforce-ready graduates, the gap between classroom learning and professional practice has become a critical challenge. Employers consistently report that new IT hires possess theoretical knowledge but struggle to apply networking concepts in real enterprise environments. Students need integrated learning experiences that develop both the practical skills required […]

The emergence of generative AI has taken the CS education community by a storm in the last two years. As an instructor of introductory computer science (CS1) courses, I am keenly interested in leveraging AI to make CS1 better. While concerns about academic dishonesty are real, so is the golden opportunity to transform CS education. […]

As cybersecurity education advances, applied learning experiences are increasingly recognized as essential for preparing learners to apply their skills in practice and achieve workforce readiness. Foundational knowledge and theoretical instruction remain critical, but interactive components provide the bridge between “knowing” and “doing”. Too often, however, these activities remain fragmented and disconnected from the operational realities […]

zyBooks stands alone among major educational publishers in conducting peer-reviewed research on our platform’s effectiveness. While competitors rely on testimonials and marketing claims, we submit our findings to rigorous academic scrutiny through peer- reviewed conference proceedings and journal articles. Recent studies demonstrate measurable improvements in the factors that matter most for student success: engagement, learning […]

Practical strategies for improving student success with interactive learning The Evidence for Interactive Learning Peer-reviewed research in engineering courses using zyBooks has documented statistically significant improvements when activities are assigned for grades. A study of engineering courses found that the percentage of students receiving A’s, B’s, and C’s increased from 45% to 57%. While these […]

As generative AI increasingly handles code writing tasks, computer science education must pivot from teaching students to write code to emphasizing code reading, prompt engineering, and testing skills that will be essential in AI-augmented development environments.

Explore why even strong programming students face challenges with data structures concepts and how to improve success rates using zyBooks.

AI as Your Teaching Assisstant Course development has always been one of the most time-intensive aspects of teaching. GenAI tools can help instructors develop and improve their courses more efficiently, allowing more time to focus on teaching and research. For educators juggling course preparation, research responsibilities, and student support, AI can serve as a valuable […]

A. Schwab-McCoy 2025

See the Data Structures choices with zyBooks, so you can choose the optimal content to meet your course objectives and students’ needs.

Moving Beyond “Yes” or “No” to GenAI When ChatGPT was first introduced in 2022, instructors often took one of two approaches to GenAI in their classes: yes or no. While bans on GenAI may be appropriate in certain courses, such bans are difficult for instructors to enforce. As GenAI tools have become more advanced and […]

Helping students understand when AI use is appropriate in their courses will equip them to use AI responsibly after the semester ends.

by Dr. Nikitha Sambamurthy Why I Designed This Session As Editorial Director for zyBooks, I work with engineering faculty daily. In conversations, I kept hearing familiar refrains: “Students don’t read,” “grading takes forever,” “I want to give better feedback but…” But when I asked what they’d tried, I discovered sophisticated solutions I’d never heard about—strategies […]

A seven-semester study presented at ASEE 2025 provides new data on interactive homework effectiveness in engineering courses. Dr. Yasaman Adibi, Dr. Adrian Rodriguez, and colleagues tracked 345 students across similar course conditions, varying only whether interactive textbook activities were assigned for points or recommended and not assigned for points.  Key findings: The research addresses a […]

What if a simple change to your homework structure could reduce failing grades by 22% and boost student engagement by 500%? New research from a major public university reveals how zyBooks are transforming engineering education outcomes. Read the research here. Key Research Findings A new ASEE conference paper tracking 345 engineering students across seven semesters […]

By Nikitha Sambamurthy, PhD, Purdue University, Engineering Education Table of Contents Overview I. IntroductionA. The Engineering Retention ChallengeB. Evolution of Retention StrategiesC. Framework for Success II. Core Strategies A. Math SupportB. Community SupportC. Dynamic Learning III. Role-Specific Implementation Guide A. Provost LevelB. Dean LevelC. Department Head LevelD. Faculty Level IV. References Overview Engineering education in […]

The “Artificial Intelligence” chapter is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of AI and provide guidelines for using AI responsibly.

At zyBooks, we recognize the value of real-world applications in fostering a deeper understanding of complex concepts. Our case studies serve as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Having a thorough understanding of math is crucial to student success in data science courses. See how zyBooks can support your students’ needs.

These best practices for teaching IT security will keep students engaged, excited and, most importantly, retaining what they’re learning.

30 years of teaching experience informs key concepts where students typically struggle Operating System Concepts (OSC) is a mature title that has been around for over 25 years and is now in its 10th edition. The zyVersion of OSC presents the fundamental principles of contemporary operating systems using zyBooks active learning pedagogy that directly engages […]

Are animations helpful to student comprehension of complex concepts? See what Dr. Michael Goldwasser recommends and how zyBooks can help you deliver.

These best practices are invaluable in helping students master data science – best practices you can put into action in your own classroom right away.

What is a QTI file?  QTI stands for Question and Test Interoperability, a widely used and adopted standard format for representing assessment content. A QTI file is a zip file containing assessment data in XML and its associated multimedia content such as an image. QTI files can be created, exported, and imported by different tools […]

These best practices are invaluable in helping students master data science – best practices you can put into action in your own classroom right away.

Learning some of these facts about zyBooks might just help your course run more smoothly.

Here at zyBooks, we’re getting more questions about cheating than ever before. In this post, we share strategies you can use in your classroom right now that have been shown to substantially reduce cheating.

These best practices are invaluable in helping students master data science – best practices you can put into action in your own classroom right away.

These best practices are invaluable in helping students master data science – best practices you can put into action in your own classroom right away.

These best practices for teaching IT security will keep students engaged, excited and, most importantly, retaining what they’re learning.

One in three cybersecurity jobs remains unfilled and job growth in the field is projected to jump 32% in the next decade. Here’s how to help your students unlock these career opportunities.

No credentials in information technology are more crucial than CompTIA certifications. Here’s how to help your students best prepare for them.

How do you communicate a detailed engineering drawing to someone who can’t see? Groundbreaking work with 3D printing offers an answer.

Professor Matthew Liberatore shares his insights and research on the power of many small practice problems, and how it correlates with student success

Advanced zyLabs will change the way you teach programming. Check out these top tips to help you get the most out of our new cloud-based coding environment.

Simply put, learning R is hard. In this guide, I’ll share six steps to helping your students get comfortable with this important programming language.

The new block proof tool gives instructors the capability to directly assess and teach proof writing skills and do it at scale.

The new block proof tool gives instructors the capability to directly assess and teach proof writing skills and do it at scale.

Dr. Horstmann shares three key insights for teaching programming that every computer science instructor should add to their pedagogical playbook. 

What if we can ask students formative questions as they go through the material – and help them understand the answers in real time?

What do “student hours” look like? Check out a better way to help students outside of class. Hint: It doesn’t happen in your office.

To mark International Women in Engineering Day, we brought together an esteemed group of our engineering colleagues to talk about their own professional journeys, the challenges they and other women face in the field, and how to inspire more girls and women to become engineers. 

Here’s how to shore up bedrock math concepts through a novel approach that’s at once fun, accessible, and directly relevant to students’ lives.

We spoke to Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly about how her university applies a theoretical framework to teaching math, and approaches academic rigor – insights you can put to work at your institution, too.

Finding effective ways to teach complex statistical concepts is crucial for student success. Simulation-Based Inference (SBI) is an approach I’ve incorporated into my courses to meet this challenge. You should put it to work in your classroom, too.

In this post, I’ll help you supercharge your autograding efforts. I’ll share insights on how to use autograding to improve how you teach and how your students learn. And I’ll walk you through the three most important autograding methodologies and how to use them.

“What I’ve found is that the math proficiency of my students varies significantly, from those who barely passed their prerequisites to those who really excelled in them. My challenge as an instructor is that the course I’m teaching is not a math course.”

A question we hear from instructors is, how do you choose the right language for your data science courses?

We spoke with Dr. Alex Edgcomb about the motivation behind Coral and how computer science instructors can use the language as a powerful onramp for teaching programming.