Supporting the Needs of an Ever Growing Online Population: Online Learners

Goals of the presentation:  This session aims to illustrate how the population of online learners are growing, unpack the known needs of online and adult learners, introduce models for understanding the online learning experience, share research-based strategies for meeting the needs of online students, and allow attendees to share their experiences with or as online students

 

Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe the growth of the online student population and identify their feelings about that growth

• Identify challenges/needs of online learners and analyze how these align (or don’t) with campus-based students

• Summarize a framework for supporting online students

• Identify evidence-based strategies for supporting online students and contribute best-practice idea

Background information: Few would argue that online learning is transforming the higher education landscape and the student experience of college students across the nation. While enrollment in higher education may be decreasing, students are enrolling in online courses at an increasing rate: in fact, as of 2015, almost 30% (29.7%) of students in higher education are taking at least one distance course and among the 30%, 14.3% are taking all courses at a distance. Growth is seen across the board in private for-profit AND public and private not-for-profit institutions have grown their distance learning enrollments (Allen & Seaman, 2017). Understanding this population is paramount for fulfilling our duty of meeting the needs of all students.

The dropout rates of online students vary - some found as few as 15% of students drop out, some researchers found as many as 50-70% of online students dropout (Hobbs, 2004; Tallent-Runnels et al., 2006). Various reasons for dropout have become known including feeling isolated and disconnected, having technology-related issues, lack of connectivity with and instructional direction from faculty, loss of focus and motivation, and lack of social interaction with peers (Lehman & Conceicao, 2014).

Conversely, we know that student characteristics and skills (before entering college) and internal and external factors (once enrolled) impact student persistence (Rovai, 2003). Further, staying motivated is an important element for persistence of college students; one study identified strategies to keep students motivated that could be used as a framework for student affairs educators (Lehman & Conceicao, 2014). Support is another important ingredient for success of online students; support means creating an environment that is effective for learning, establishing strategies for community, helping students learn self-care strategies, and providing assistance throughout (Lehman & Conceicao). A student-centered model, The Persistence Model for Online Student Retention created by Lehman & Conceicao serves as a useful framework for understanding how to support online students.

References

Allen, E. and Seaman, J. (2017). Digital Learning Compass: Distance Education Enrollment Report 2017. Digital Learning Compass. Babson Survey Research Group, e-Literate, WCET.

Conceico, S.C.O. and Lehman, R.M. (2012, November). Motivation and support strategies for online adult learners in the 21st century. American Association for Adult and Continuing Education. Las Vegas, NV.

Hobbs, V. (2004). The promise and power of online learning in rural education. Arlington. VA: Rural School and Community Trust.

Lehman, R. M., & Conceicao, S. C. O. (2014). Motivating and Retaining Online Students: Research-Based Strategies That Work. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Rovai, A.P. (2003). In search of higher persistence rates in distance education online programs. Internet & Higher Education, 6(1), 1-6.

Tallent-Runnels, M.K., Thomas, J.A., Lan, W.Y., Cooper, S. Ahern, T.C., Shaw, S.M. & Liu, X. (2006). Teaching courses online. A review of the research.  Research of Educational Research, 76(1).

 

Session format: The program format is enhanced lecture whereby a series of  sections of content will be shared punctuated with active learning strategies to engage the audience.

 

Methods for participant involvement:  Opportunities will be woven throughout to invite audience to ask questions or comment and to provide examples of effective practices. Attendees will be invited to participate and contribute ideas in person and using digital tools allowing for contributions during and beyond the presentation.

Outline of Session

• Introductions (2 minutes)

  1. Audience interactive: Kahoot survey of characteristics of those in the room.

• Review of stats (5 minutes)

  1. Enrollment trends

  2. Challenges/needs of online learners

• Review of The Persistence Model for Online Student Retention (5 minutes)

• Goals of online learning experience

• Create an ecosystem that is inclusive of online learners

  1. Opportunity to learn from past

• Review of practical application and evidence-based strategies for supporting online students (15 minutes)

  1. Audience interactive: answer garden - how do you currently support online learners?

  2. Six basic commitments for supporting online learners

  3. Support mechanisms

     • Harnessing data analytics digital retention platform

     • Proactive retention coaching

     • Virtual student union/cohort groups

     • Tech support desk

     • Orientation

     • Mental health/support

• Audience best practice contributions and discussion (10 Minutes)

  1. Think pair share: what ideas do you have for supporting online learners