Early Warnings Leading to Increased Retention - It Works!Ida M. [email protected]
Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business LawDirector, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning and TeachingCalifornia State University, Fresno
THE ISSUE
Online courses work well for students who are self-directed and do not mind the perceived impersonal nature of the courses. Online
courses are more challenging for learners who are not organized and students tend to 'forget' about the course.
This presenter has used Blackboard Learn's Early Warning System to increase the number of students who 'attend' and perform
satisfactorily in a required course that is only taught online. In this session, you will get some tips for engaging and involving students
from the start and increasing retention
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ABOUT ME
Ida M. Jones• Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business
Law• Director, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of
Learning and Teaching• California State University, [email protected]
I have used Blackboard for 14 years.
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ABOUT MY INSTITUTION
California State University, Fresno
• 4 year institution
• 8 schools
• Some masters degrees programs
• Several Ph.D granting programs
• Blackboard campus since 1999
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ABOUT THE COURSE
Business law-required course for business majors
4-units at Fresno State; 3 units at many other colleges
This is the required 1-unit course for those who took the course at one of the “other” colleges
• Taught 1X year, only online
• Taught as an 8-week course
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WHAT WE ARE GOING TO LEARN TODAY
Takeaway number one:
Tips and strategies to engage students from (prior to) day 1 of your online course
Takeaway number two:
Record-keeping simplified
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OUR CHALLENGE
Retaining students by keeping students engaged-especially so online
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OUR SOLUTION-THEME
“Touch every student individually” at least once during the first two-three weeks
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OUR SOLUTION-TIPS AND STRATEGIES
• Announcements
• Public acknowledgement of contribution
• Posting in Class FAQ Forum
• Posting in Groups’ Forums
• Post to the group
• Comment/e-mail to individual on posts within the group
• E-mails-Early Warning System#BbWorld13 idaj
SUCCESS!!
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STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF “HIGH TOUCH” ACTIVITIES
_x000e_Strongly Agree43%
_x0005_Agree35%
_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree
22%
Overall, the instructor acknowledged student participa-tion in the course.
_x000e_Strongly Agree_x0005_Agree_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree
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BUILDING COMMUNITY
_x000e_Strongly Agree52%
_x0005_Agree26%
_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree
22%
Overall, the instructor’s actions reinforced the devel-opment of a sense of community among course partic-
ipants. BA88F08
_x000e_Strongly Agree
_x0005_Agree
_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree
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PROMOTING LEARNING
_x000e_Strongly Agree22%
_x0005_Agree17%
_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree52%
_x0008_Disagree9%
Overall, the instructor provided feedback that helped me understand my strengths and weaknesses.
_x000e_Strongly Agree
_x0005_Agree
_x001a_Neither Agree nor Disagree
_x0008_Disagree
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DO THIS NEXT
Create a schedule and draft of e-mails for the first three weeks of the semester.
For more information & samples:
https://sites.google.com/site/bb2013earlywarningsystem/
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THANK YOU!
Ida M. JONES
Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business Law
Director, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning and Teaching
California State University, [email protected]
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