Checklist: 5 Ways to Increase Online Course Retention

Content:

• Break a large course into several smaller ones
• Structure the learning material
• Encourage activity
• Alternate different types of tasks

Low completion rates are a serious problem for massive open online courses. Typically, only about 15% of the most motivated and driven students complete their course. Expecting every student in your course to be perfect is unrealistic. We analyzed research and identified five recommendations to help increase the number of students who successfully complete your course. These strategies will help create a more engaged audience and improve learning outcomes.

Break a large course into several smaller ones

Short courses demonstrate higher effectiveness compared to long ones. Research conducted by the Brazilian Federal Institute of Education confirms this trend. In 2016, two large programs were organized, lasting 60 and 100 hours, respectively. In 2017, the first program was divided into three micro-courses of 20 hours, and the second into four courses of 20 and 30 hours. The results showed a significant increase in the completion rate: this figure increased from 27% to 49%. This indicates that shorter training programs can increase the motivation and engagement of participants.

Structure the Learning Material

Researchers from the University of the Aegean in Greece achieved an impressive retention rate of over 80% in a course for teachers on preventing violence and bullying in schools. The training was organized using a systematic approach, which contributed to its high effectiveness. Key recommendations relate to the structure of the MOOC: a clear schedule and defined goals for each week, an even distribution of the learning material across weekly blocks, the inclusion of introductory videos for each section, and dividing the material within a section into short video fragments no longer than six minutes. These methods increase participant engagement and improve retention, making the course an effective tool for preparing teachers to prevent violence in the educational environment.

Encourage Activity

Researchers at the University of the Ege recommend actively implementing tasks that encourage dialogue among students, as well as diversifying video lectures. It is important to include cases that can surprise students and challenge their previous ideas. Using analogies, alternating methods of presenting information, and providing additional educational material and references will help improve understanding and retention of the material. This approach makes learning more interactive and effective, promoting a deeper understanding of the topics covered.

Alternate different types of tasks

Experts at the University of the Ege recommend combining different types of questions in closed-ended tests, as well as implementing small weekly projects to enhance learning. It is important to provide comments on answers to closed-ended questions and sample solutions for projects. When a student selects an answer and clicks "Submit," they should receive immediate feedback explaining why that answer is incorrect. This avoids confusion and helps to better understand mistakes, which contributes to more effective learning.