Retention of Students in Online Classes - Top 10 Suggestions
Trixi Ayahr Beeker, CEP 812, 15 December 2010
Below is a list of my top 10 suggestions for improving retention in online classes. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather the start of a longer-term, fascinating project which was begun during an accelerated online course in technology and learning.
The suggestions are divided into the 5 main categories which seem to most effect student retention in online classes, based on current research. This is an area which is still developing, and investigators are just now beginning to perform the in-depth scholarly studies which will help answer the question: "How can we best increase student retention in online classes?"
COURSE DESIGN
1. Use an online course design checklist.
(Blackboard 2010, Frey et al 2004, Jorgensen 2002, Quality Matters 2010, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
2. Try newer online teaching technologies such as virtual reality and educational gaming - these can help increase motivation, and social presence as well as a sense of community.
(Frey et al 2004, O'Connor 2009, Spiegelman & Glass 2009)
FACULTY SKILLS
3. Provide contact details, including available times and turn-around times, and respond promptly to all forms of student communication. Clarify preferred communication forms and styles (such as email subject headers) at the start of the course.
(Frey et al 2004)
4. Participate in a SIG or other professional group to ensure training in online teaching is as up-to-date as possible. Take advantage of any institutional or online training available to be best prepared as an online instructor.
(From my professors in MSU's CEP courses)
5. Create a strong online social presence via audio & video podcasting, webinars, photo(s), and frequent, positive, prompt interaction with students.
(Brown et al 2009, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
STUDENT SKILLS
6. Provide (or require!) orientations in minimum computer skills, online course navigation and functions, online communication, and time management.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Miller 2005, Nash 2005, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
7. Create a sense of belonging for students - as part of the course, and perhaps also as part of the department, institution. This can be achieved by…
- Providing 'get to know you' activities appropriate for multiple intelligences (by using more than one media option and providing more than one opportunity)
- Ensuring at least some of the work is performed in groups
- Encouraging communication between course instructors in multi-media forms, including virtual reality.
(Brown et al, 2009, Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Herbert 1994, O'Connor 2009, Santovec 2004)
8. Provide a detailed rubric for threaded discussions and use a 'get to know you' activity as an extra-credit assignment for students to practice with the rubric.
(Rizopoulos & McCarthy 2009)
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
9. Provide multiple forms of access to 24-hour technical support & 24-hour research support
(Herbert 1994, Nash date2005, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
10. Create Online Course Guidelines or standards at the institutional level, including training and support opportunities for instructors.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Gaide 2005)
WORKS CITED
Articles:
Brown, A, Brown, C, Fine, B, Luterbach, K, Sugar, W, Viniciguerra, D C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: a cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4) 351-371.
Chatham-carpenter, A, Seawel, L, Raschig, J. (2010). Avoiding the pitfalls: current practices and recommendations for ePortfolios in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(4) 437-456.
Frey, B A, Alman, S W, Barron, D, Steffens, A. (2004). Student satisfaction with the Online MLIS Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 45(2) 82-97.
Gaide, S. (2005). Increase retention by establishing institutional and faculty benchmarks. Distance Education Report. 9(18) 4,7.
Herbert, M. (2006). Staying the course: a study in online student satisfaction and retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 9(4).
Jorgensen, H. (2002). Wisconsin technical college gets dramatic enrollment, retention results with “overnight” online program. Distance Education Report. 6(5):5.
Miller, M D, Rainer, R K, Corley, J K. (2002). Predictors of engagement and participation in an online course. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 6(1).
Nash, R. D. (2005) Course completion rates among distance learners: identifying possible methods to improve retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 8(4):1.
O’Connor, E A. (2009). Instructional and design elements that support effective use of virtual worlds: what graduate student work reveals about second life. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(2) 213-234.
Rizopoulos, L A, McCarthy, P. (2009). Using online threaded discussions: best practices for the digital learning. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4): 373-383.
Santovec, M L. (2004). Virtual learning communities lead to 80 percent retention at WGU. Distance Education Report. 8(8): 4.
Spiegelman, M, Glass, R. (2009). Games and Web 2.0: a winning combination for millennials. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(3) 273-289.
Tallent-Runnels, M K, Thomas, J A, Lan, W L, Cooper, S, Ahern, T C, Shaw, S M, Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online: a review of the research. Review of Educational Research. 76(1) 93-135.
Retention of Students in Online Classes - Top 10 Suggestions
Trixi Ayahr Beeker, CEP 812, 15 December 2010
Below is a list of my top 10 suggestions for improving retention in online classes. This is not an exhaustive list, but rather the start of a longer-term, fascinating project which was begun during an accelerated online course in technology and learning.
The suggestions are divided into the 5 main categories which seem to most effect student retention in online classes, based on current research. This is an area which is still developing, and investigators are just now beginning to perform the in-depth scholarly studies which will help answer the question: "How can we best increase student retention in online classes?"
COURSE DESIGN
1. Use an online course design checklist.
(Blackboard 2010, Frey et al 2004, Jorgensen 2002, Quality Matters 2010, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
2. Try newer online teaching technologies such as virtual reality and educational gaming - these can help increase motivation, and social presence as well as a sense of community.
(Frey et al 2004, O'Connor 2009, Spiegelman & Glass 2009)
FACULTY SKILLS
3. Provide contact details, including available times and turn-around times, and respond promptly to all forms of student communication. Clarify preferred communication forms and styles (such as email subject headers) at the start of the course.
(Frey et al 2004)
4. Participate in a SIG or other professional group to ensure training in online teaching is as up-to-date as possible. Take advantage of any institutional or online training available to be best prepared as an online instructor.
(From my professors in MSU's CEP courses)
5. Create a strong online social presence via audio & video podcasting, webinars, photo(s), and frequent, positive, prompt interaction with students.
(Brown et al 2009, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
STUDENT SKILLS
6. Provide (or require!) orientations in minimum computer skills, online course navigation and functions, online communication, and time management.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Miller 2005, Nash 2005, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
7. Create a sense of belonging for students - as part of the course, and perhaps also as part of the department, institution. This can be achieved by…
- Providing 'get to know you' activities appropriate for multiple intelligences (by using more than one media option and providing more than one opportunity)
- Ensuring at least some of the work is performed in groups
- Encouraging communication between course instructors in multi-media forms, including virtual reality.
(Brown et al, 2009, Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Herbert 1994, O'Connor 2009, Santovec 2004)
8. Provide a detailed rubric for threaded discussions and use a 'get to know you' activity as an extra-credit assignment for students to practice with the rubric.
(Rizopoulos & McCarthy 2009)
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
9. Provide multiple forms of access to 24-hour technical support & 24-hour research support
(Herbert 1994, Nash date2005, Tallent-Runnels et al 2006)
10. Create Online Course Guidelines or standards at the institutional level, including training and support opportunities for instructors.
(Chatham-Carpenter et al 2010, Gaide 2005)
WORKS CITED
Articles:Brown, A, Brown, C, Fine, B, Luterbach, K, Sugar, W, Viniciguerra, D C. (2009). Instructional uses of podcasting in online learning environments: a cooperative inquiry study. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4) 351-371.
Chatham-carpenter, A, Seawel, L, Raschig, J. (2010). Avoiding the pitfalls: current practices and recommendations for ePortfolios in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(4) 437-456.
Frey, B A, Alman, S W, Barron, D, Steffens, A. (2004). Student satisfaction with the Online MLIS Program at the University of Pittsburgh. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science. 45(2) 82-97.
Gaide, S. (2005). Increase retention by establishing institutional and faculty benchmarks. Distance Education Report. 9(18) 4,7.
Herbert, M. (2006). Staying the course: a study in online student satisfaction and retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 9(4).
Jorgensen, H. (2002). Wisconsin technical college gets dramatic enrollment, retention results with “overnight” online program. Distance Education Report. 6(5):5.
Miller, M D, Rainer, R K, Corley, J K. (2002). Predictors of engagement and participation in an online course. The Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 6(1).
Nash, R. D. (2005) Course completion rates among distance learners: identifying possible methods to improve retention. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration. 8(4):1.
O’Connor, E A. (2009). Instructional and design elements that support effective use of virtual worlds: what graduate student work reveals about second life. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 38(2) 213-234.
Rizopoulos, L A, McCarthy, P. (2009). Using online threaded discussions: best practices for the digital learning. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(4): 373-383.
Santovec, M L. (2004). Virtual learning communities lead to 80 percent retention at WGU. Distance Education Report. 8(8): 4.
Spiegelman, M, Glass, R. (2009). Games and Web 2.0: a winning combination for millennials. Journal of Educational Technology Systems. 37(3) 273-289.
Tallent-Runnels, M K, Thomas, J A, Lan, W L, Cooper, S, Ahern, T C, Shaw, S M, Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online: a review of the research. Review of Educational Research. 76(1) 93-135.
Websites:
AHEAD
http://www.ahead.org/resources/universal-design/resources
The American Distance Education Consortium
http://www.adec.edu/online-resources.html
APLU Sloan National Commission on Online Learning
http://www.aplu.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=282
Canadian 2009 “State of the Nation in K-12 Learning”
http://www.inacol.org/research/docs/iNACOL_CanadaStudy_200911.pdf
Center for Online Learning
http://academics.georgiasouthern.edu/col/id/
Center for Research on Learning and Teaching
http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsot.php
INACOL - International Association for k-12 Online Learning
http://www.inacol.org/_
The International Center for Distance Learning Research and Praxis _
http://www.usdla.org/_
The Michigan Community College Association
http://www.mcca.org/
Michigan Virtual University
http://www.mivu.org/
http://www.learnport.org/_
North American Council for Online Learning
http://www.edgateway.net/cs/nacol/print/docs/437
Principles of Online Design
http://www.fgcu.edu/onlinedesign/designDev.html
Quality Matters Program
http://www.qmprogram.org/
Research on K-12 Learning – a Synthesis (from 2005)
http://www.ncrel.org/tech/synthesis/
Virtual School Research Blog by Michael Barbour
http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2009/03/07/k-12-online-learning-research-article-publication/