Dr. Erik Sikkema and his team chose Achieve after an extensive search for the right digital tool to support diverse learning needs. It became the first digital platform used in the course and has remained central ever since.

Guinn's Essentials of General, Organic and Biochemistry, the text assigned within Achieve, aligned closely with the key concepts students needed to know. Achieve enabled Dr. Sikkema's students to feel more confident and gain essential chemistry skills needed for laboratory work, including performing chemical calculations, understanding reactions, and identifying key substances and compounds.

What Stood Out:

• A user-friendly platform with high-quality, engaging materials

• Differentiated pacing to meet diverse learning needs

• Extensive bank of practice questions and assignments

When Dr. Sikkema decided to adopt Achieve for his course, the Macmillan Learning sales team provided strong support throughout the setup process. After he outlined his key topics and learning goals, the team prepared a tailored course that aligned with his objectives and made the transition smooth. Dr. Sikkema especially valued the breadth of the question bank and the variety of question types available, which gave him the flexibility to create assignments that fit his teaching approach. The platform’s intuitive design also made it straightforward to use from the start.

Achieve enabled a shift in Dr. Sikkema’s teaching model - from traditional lectures followed by homework to a flipped classroom approach. Students now complete targeted assignments in advance, giving him clear insights into where they struggle. With access to real-time data, Dr. Sikkema can adapt instruction on the spot and deliver just-in-time teaching that meets students’ needs more effectively.

Achieve is now used in multiple ways:

• Pre-class preparation with instructor access to student progress

• Self-study activities focused on targeted learning goals

• Homework assignments for each topic

• Personalised implementation support from Macmillan Learning

"Knowing exactly where each student is in their learning allows me to step in with meaningful support at just the right time.” - Dr. Erik Sikkema

After bringing Achieve into his course, Dr. Sikkema saw clear improvements in how students prepared for class and performed on assignments. Chemistry, a subject many students often find intimidating, became more approachable; they engaged more actively and tackled the material with growing confidence.

Achieve gave students the flexibility to focus their study time where it mattered most. By completing assignments before class, they could identify their own areas of difficulty, while Dr. Sikkema used Achieve’s real-time insights to meet students where they are at a specific time. This shift allowed him to provide more targeted support while encouraging students to take ownership of their learning.

Achieve's learning tools and by assigning additional student activities.

In his evaluation of Achieve, Dr. Sikkema highlighted several key outcomes:

• 92% increase in visibility into student progress

• 92% improvement in student grades

• 91% increase in student preparedness and engagement

• 92% of students needing extra help received effective support

He also rated Achieve's features highly, giving Assignments, Gradebook, Interactives, and Multimedia Assets each a 9 out of 10 .

"With Achieve, students can pinpoint where they’re struggling and focus their time where it counts most, based on their individual needs." - Dr. Erik Sikkema

Get started with Achieve today!

If you’re looking for an intuitive learning support solution to help you connect with students and foster success, look to Macmillan Learning’s Achieve courseware platform. Seamlessly integrated into your campus’s Virtual Learning Environment, Achieve delivers powerful media and assessment tools that give every student a voice.