In public speaking courses, relevance matters. From current events to evolving communication platforms, students expect material that reflects the world they live in today. At Northern Kentucky University, Professor Jeffrey Fox set out to modernize his Public Speaking course while keeping costs down for students and making course management easier for faculty.

An Associate Teaching Professor, Fox teaches Public Speaking using The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen Lucas through McGraw Hill Connect with the Evergreen delivery model. His goals were straightforward: increase student engagement, provide high-quality digital resources, reduce financial burden, and create a course structure that works for both full-time faculty and adjuncts.

Moving Beyond Traditional Textbooks

Traditional print textbooks were becoming increasingly expensive for students, and Fox found it challenging to motivate students to consistently engage with static readings. At the same time, faculty needed reliable, vetted resources that could be implemented easily across sections.

Connect offered a cost-effective digital alternative without sacrificing quality. “Connect is a less expensive, quality option compared to traditional paper textbooks,” Fox said. Built-in tools like SmartBook helped address a long-standing challenge. “SmartBook is the modern way to get students to read and engage.”

With Connect, faculty gained access to a wide range of ready-to-use resources and ancillaries, making it easier to design and maintain a consistent course experience. “Connect has made faculty lives easier by providing well-vetted, quality content with a wide selection of resources and ancillaries to implement,” Fox noted.

Staying Current with the Evergreen Delivery Model

Fox was particularly encouraged by the introduction of McGraw Hill’s Evergreen delivery model, which delivers new and updated content, tools, and accessibility improvements directly into existing courses.

Before Evergreen, updating course materials meant preparing for new editions every few years, a process that could take several hours. “Preparing to move to a new edition would often take me four to six hours,” Fox explained. “With Evergreen, it takes under 30 minutes.”

In a discipline shaped by social media, news cycles, and cultural change, timely updates are critical. “With social media and current events spreading quickly, it’s important to have updated content and assessments to match where we are in time,” he said.

Designing a More Engaging Course Experience

In Fox’s course, student grades are built around a combination of preparation, participation, and applied practice. SmartBook assignments replace traditional chapter quizzes and account for 10% of the final grade. Students complete these assignments before class, giving them a low-stakes way to engage with the material.

“SmartBook gives students a low-stakes way to engage in course content before I cover it in class,” Fox said. Using Connect’s analytics and reporting tools, he can see where students are struggling and adjust lectures or activities accordingly.

Shifting the Focus to Applied Learning

With students arriving better prepared, Fox has been able to shift away from traditional lecture-heavy classes. Instead, he uses class time to address challenging concepts quickly and focus on applied activities, discussion, and scaffolded assignments.

“Students come to class with a better understanding of course knowledge,” Fox noted. “That allows us to spend more time on application and discussion.”

Using Connect has helped free up class time for deeper engagement. “Using Connect gives me more time in class to do application activities,” he added.

Supporting Students and Faculty Alike

For Fox, the combination of Connect and the Evergreen delivery model has streamlined course preparation while improving the student experience. Students benefit from up-to-date, engaging content, while faculty gain flexibility and confidence in their course materials.

“Connect and the Evergreen delivery model help me stay on top of the latest topics, current events, and available technologies,” Fox said. “They provide my students with current content and give me confidence in the materials I’m using.”

Learn More about Evergreen.