Derivita Power User Stories: Derivita in St. Louis

Recently, our Marketing Director, Arianna Irwin, had the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Moody, a seasoned educator with 32 years of teaching experience, currently teaching Integrated Math 1 and AP Calculus at MICDS in St. Louis. As a power user of Derivita, Melanie shared valuable insights into how the platform has transformed her teaching and her students' learning experiences.

Watch her full video interview on YouTube.

Why Choose Derivita?

Melanie started using Derivita in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking a way to track student progress more effectively in a remote setting. One of the first features that stood out to her was SpotCheck:

“The SpotChecks really helped me out, especially when we were online. I could give them the SpotChecks and I could tell whether they were actually doing it or not when they submitted their answer.”

Since then, Derivita has become a staple in her classroom, with nearly all of her 70 students using it daily

Transforming Classroom Engagement

Melanie shared how Derivita has shifted student attitudes toward learning. Initially, students were hesitant about doing homework online. However, over time, they embraced Derivita - mostly due to its immediate feedback feature:

“Now they like the immediate feedback so much that they are really enjoying it and they kind of want the Derivita homework rather than the paper homework.”

She also noted how the platform supports differentiated learning. This is particularly helpful for students who may require additional guidance or one on one instruction. 

“Especially with the ones [students] that need a little bit more assistance - when they get it wrong, they can see their answers. Sometimes they understand Derivita’s explanation better than mine, which gives them another way of learning.”

Favorite Derivita Feature:

When asked about her favorite feature of the Derivita platform, Melanie emphasized the platform’s ability to track student progress:

“It gives me a way of checking in on kids to make sure everything is okay. Sometimes there are things outside of our control that affect their performance, and Derivita helps me pinpoint that quickly.”

A Lasting Impact

After four to five years of using Derivita, Melanie feels more confident and efficient with the platform. She has incorporated the quiz and assessment features more frequently and appreciates how it aligns with her teaching approach. Ultimately, what keeps her passionate about teaching is her connection with students:

“I always feel younger than I am because of the energy my students bring. And it’s always rewarding when former students come back and say, ‘Hey, I just breezed through my college class because of what we learned here.’”

We are incredibly grateful for Melanie’s dedication to her students and for sharing her experiences with Derivita. Her story is a testament to how technology can enhance learning when paired with passionate and innovative educators.

Ready to start your own Derivita journey?

Request a demo in your preferred LMS with a Derivita expert today!