ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTU
1
TimestampWhat is one thing you or your university is doing to improve retention in online courses?What level is this strategy?
2
6/10/2014Starfish program--identifying students who are struggling and contacting them at University, program, course levels at several intervals throughout the semester. Message goes to student, advisor, and is flagged for monitoring.University program based.
3
6/10/2014 11:43:36Making online content as collaborative and interactive as possible to increase engagementIndividual Faculty Strategy
4
6/10/2014 11:43:51Use video announcements to connect to students and provide timely updates. Use their names in the video.Individual Faculty Strategy
5
6/10/2014 11:44:05Send absent student an email informing of absence, consequences of absence, reminder of the policy and request for communication.

Instructor will also include encouragement and an action plan of what to do to get caught up.		Individual Faculty Strategy
6
6/10/2014 11:44:05Set higher entrance requirementIndividual Faculty Strategy
7
6/10/2014 11:44:06communication, communication, communication - individual and class-wideIndividual Faculty Strategy
8
6/10/2014 11:44:16We contact students individually to see how we can help make the online learning experience better for them. We encourage conferencing, either in person or by video. Individual Faculty Strategy
9
6/10/2014 11:44:16Incorporate growth mindset type exercise into course so students can appreciate growthIndividual Faculty Strategy
10
6/10/2014 11:44:16faculty engagement in discussion forums and holding virtual office hoursIndividual Faculty Strategy
11
6/10/2014 11:44:19learning readiness surveysIndividual Faculty Strategy
12
6/10/2014 11:44:22Having students working together as much as possible so they don't feel isolated: discussion groups, group projects.....
Individual Faculty Strategy
13
6/10/2014 11:44:25faculty advisor contacts those who have not registered for 'next' courseIndividual Faculty Strategy
14
6/10/2014 11:44:27Calling students who have dropped "offline" over a week.Individual Faculty Strategy
15
6/10/2014 11:44:26Faculty virtual office hours and phone appointments. Individual Faculty Strategy
16
6/10/2014 11:44:26Faculty use an alert application that alerts advisors when students are at risk. Advisors can then connect students to the appropriate support.Individual Faculty Strategy
17
6/10/2014 11:44:27Utilization of integrated LMS analytical features to identify those students that may be falling behind.Individual Faculty Strategy
18
6/10/2014 11:44:31Create course partner/buddies at the beginning of the course so students can support each other. Has been working really well some students take advantage some do not.Individual Faculty Strategy
19
6/10/2014 11:44:35Improving pedagogy for student engagement.Individual Faculty Strategy
20
6/10/2014 11:44:35Follow up with students who do not log in for more than two weeks or do not turn in major assignments.Individual Faculty Strategy
21
6/10/2014 11:44:37Emailing profs about their online files to make sure they are accessible to students with disabilities. Students who use adaptive software struggle in the online environment and drop outIndividual Faculty Strategy
22
6/10/2014 11:44:39offer "live" teleconferences for office hours or as needed outside of office hoursIndividual Faculty Strategy
23
6/10/2014 11:44:40Specific written feedback on all written assignments.Individual Faculty Strategy
24
6/10/2014 11:44:41Send a "welcome" message to the entire class prior to the class opening that provides some "getting started" steps.

During Week 1, send an individual email to each student to say, "How's it going?" This opens the door for communication (social presence / teaching presence) between student and instructor and shows instructor cares about the students' success.

Stay in touch with students CONSTANTLY! 		Individual Faculty Strategy
25
6/10/2014 11:44:41Staying in touch with each student on a three times per week basis.Individual Faculty Strategy
26
6/10/2014 11:44:41Regular WebEx video chats to create stronger interpersonal connections between students/faculty.Individual Faculty Strategy
27
6/10/2014 11:44:41orientation activitiesIndividual Faculty Strategy
28
6/10/2014 11:44:46Refer failing student to counseling for appointmentIndividual Faculty Strategy
29
6/10/2014 11:44:46Monitor (weekly) student involvement. Contact students via email and phone calls.Individual Faculty Strategy
30
6/10/2014 11:44:50Emails to students and setting expectations when they registerIndividual Faculty Strategy
31
6/10/2014 11:44:51Follow up communication (email, phone calls) to those students who have stopped their activity.

Individual Faculty Strategy
32
6/10/2014 11:44:53Remind students regularly that I can allow more time if neededIndividual Faculty Strategy
33
6/10/2014 11:44:53For those who disappear, I reach out repeatedly to discover how I can help them in their efforts. For those who are struggling, I suggest support services and ask them how I can assist their progress.Individual Faculty Strategy
34
6/10/2014 11:44:54Effective course design. Helping faculty understand that online pedagogy is different.Individual Faculty Strategy
35
6/10/2014 11:44:54Assignments have frequent deadlines so I can see quickly if someone starts to disengage. Then I contact those people personally.Individual Faculty Strategy
36
6/10/2014 11:44:55Encouraging the use of online office hours via WebEx, using technology like AirSketch, etc.Individual Faculty Strategy
37
6/10/2014 11:44:57some instructors try to proactively reach out via email. it isn't always effective.Individual Faculty Strategy
38
6/10/2014 11:44:58Mid semester reviewsIndividual Faculty Strategy
39
6/10/2014 11:45:00Training them to be a successful online instructor by offering an online course for teaching online. Faculty are given the opportunity to be an "instructor" online and be a "student" in a cohort course where they apply what they're learning.Individual Faculty Strategy
40
6/10/2014 11:45:03Phone calls and/or Skype meetings with each student if the size permits.
I have never taught a large class so I am interested in how we do this for large numbers
I use a FB page for a large lecture class		Individual Faculty Strategy
41
6/10/2014 11:45:03Use of intelligent agents to send emails to communicate with students recognizing good efforts and questioning lack of participation.Individual Faculty Strategy
42
6/10/2014 11:45:01They want to contact at-risk students early on by identifying and personally contacting them.Individual Faculty Strategy
43
6/10/2014 11:45:06Have contacted students via email or phone regarding absences and lack of completed assignments.

Individual Faculty Strategy
44
6/10/2014 11:45:10At OSU, my colleague & I we are revamping our masters program to incorporate online learning. Personally, I email students multiple times a semester to tell them how they are progressing and to check in with them.Individual Faculty Strategy
45
6/10/2014 11:45:10Faculty development for professors/instructorsIndividual Faculty Strategy
46
6/10/2014 11:45:12I send out weekly introductory emails to students to remind them of the course and then a second email with feedback to their work.

email students who are not attending i.e. doing the work		Individual Faculty Strategy
47
6/10/2014 11:45:15Provide virtual office hours weekly through a "Chat" function so that students can reach me through more than just email.Individual Faculty Strategy
48
6/10/2014 11:45:14Be available F2F (either virtually or actually in person) to work with students inviduallyIndividual Faculty Strategy
49
6/10/2014 11:45:16we have created an external Wiki where the students can take it where they need it to go... this work will then be used to use towards a conference proposal or a professional article.
Individual Faculty Strategy
50
6/10/2014 11:45:20Call students when absent and refer to resources.
Individual Faculty Strategy
51
6/10/2014 11:45:29I would like to experiment with virtual avatar interaction- give students a face, even if it's a virtual face, and interact with them regularly to see if it improves retention. I'm tellin' ya, SecondLife!!

-Laura Lark		Individual Faculty Strategy
52
6/10/2014 11:45:40I work at a small satellite campus with just 30 students and within a larger corporation.

I visit each students desk on the first day and again on the first day of mid-term week and drop off a "goody bag" to the online students. For the f2f I actually visit the class with the same goody bag to say welcome or good luck.		Individual Faculty Strategy
53
6/10/2014 11:45:37When I notice a student is falling off the grid, I contact him/her and reach out to them and also meet with them face-to-face in my office when that is possible. I listen--sometimes it is just a matter of the student needing to learn to manage time better. Individual Faculty Strategy
54
6/10/2014 11:45:46frequent scheduled remindersIndividual Faculty Strategy
55
6/10/2014 11:45:54Retention in online courses is a function of the amount of student engagement. And an antecedent to student engagement is instructor engagement.Individual Faculty Strategy
56
6/10/2014 11:46:20Instructors send welcome letters and respond to 100% of posts by students in welcome discussion.Individual Faculty Strategy
57
6/10/2014 11:46:18We keep an "ask your instructor" open discussion forum on each course page. We also provide instructor email and phone number as well as encourage instructors to keep online office hours where instructors are available to do instant messaging/chatting in the course in real time for a designated time a couple times per week. Individual Faculty Strategy
58
6/10/2014 11:46:23Send out surveys for faculty to complete on student's having problems, low grades, absences, lack of participation, late submission of assignments. Students identified receive an email w/ faculty concern & are contacted by an assigned mentorIndividual Faculty Strategy
59
6/10/2014 11:46:55create audio instructions to compliment written instructions
Individual Faculty Strategy
60
6/10/2014 11:46:55APA Workshop the first week of classes open to all students so that they can learn to navigate our system and submit proper format. New and continuing students are invited.Individual Faculty Strategy
61
6/10/2014 11:47:01Continuous contact and check ins each week.Individual Faculty Strategy
62
6/10/2014 11:47:08I send emails to anyone not engaged. If no response check with advisor who will reach out to them. Individual Faculty Strategy
63
6/10/2014 11:47:15I always introduce myself at the outset as a member of their team, sharing a common goal to help that student successfully complete that particular course. Individual Faculty Strategy
64
6/10/2014 11:47:22Emails, phone callsIndividual Faculty Strategy
65
6/10/2014 11:47:31send personalized emails providing students resourcesIndividual Faculty Strategy
66
6/10/2014 11:47:34For the past 2 semesters I made using Facebook a requirement for each of my classes. The students are already using Facebook with their family and friends so it is natural usage of the same tool.

Basically, I create a private group for each class. Online and on-campus students have to answer a critical thinking question each week using Facebook. And, they are given the proper answer at the end of the discussion; they are given 1 week to respond to each critical thinking question. I feel it keeps students engaged in the current coursework and makes them feel they are actually "connected" to other students experiencing the same things as they are.		Individual Faculty Strategy
67
6/10/2014 11:48:49We try to provide a face to our instructor and staff members' name with a "Meet the Team" page, photo in all of our email signatures, audio of our welcome message to the classes, and we encourage video messages with our students.Individual Faculty Strategy
68
6/10/2014 11:52:45faculty advisor contacts those who have not registered for 'next' courseIndividual Faculty Strategy
69
6/10/2014 11:05:38Boise State University's eCampus Center employs a full-time Research & Retention Analyst to explore ways to improve retention through learning analytics.College / University / Program Level Strategy
70
6/10/2014 11:44:42Online course orientation
Online readiness survey
Workshops on time management and study skills
Intentional instructional design to support and engage students
Hired a dedicated Specialist of Academic Support		College / University / Program Level Strategy
71
6/10/2014 11:43:17Provide faculty training on effective course design. College / University / Program Level Strategy
72
6/10/2014 11:43:33Our campus has recently begun a faculty mentoring program wherein each faculty is assigned a few students a term to check in with weekly. College / University / Program Level Strategy
73
6/10/2014 11:43:28Call students who haven't logged into class for several days.College / University / Program Level Strategy
74
6/10/2014 11:43:29Social networking site to build a student/university communityCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
75
6/10/2014 11:43:30Embed technical support in all courses. College / University / Program Level Strategy
76
6/10/2014 11:43:38Asking students early in their course experience for problems that they are having.College / University / Program Level Strategy
77
6/10/2014 11:43:39College / University / Program Level Strategy
78
6/10/2014 11:43:41focus on following up with students that are not participating, not submitting assignments, and struggling. Tutoring services and flexible submission policies based on individual situations.College / University / Program Level Strategy
79
6/10/2014 11:43:47state wide "Complete Florida" programCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
80
6/10/2014 11:43:55We have built a Resource Room (with course and program level resources) via a Google site for our students in our specific school within the University.College / University / Program Level Strategy
81
6/10/2014 11:43:56improve course quality College / University / Program Level Strategy
82
6/10/2014 11:43:56Success Coaching -- OutreachCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
83
6/10/2014 11:44:05Starting to utilize Starfish Retention SolutionsCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
84
6/10/2014 11:44:09Online student preparation websiteCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
85
6/10/2014 11:44:09Dedicated academic advisors who work with students identified as non-persisting (no activity for 6 months). College / University / Program Level Strategy
86
6/10/2014 11:44:12College skills for success course as first course in students' programCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
87
6/10/2014 11:44:13We work with The Learning House and their course designers to create quality online courses that are engaging and stimulating for students. Definitely worth the money.
College / University / Program Level Strategy
88
6/10/2014 11:44:13Proactive calling all online students within the first three weeks of an online course.College / University / Program Level Strategy
89
6/10/2014 11:44:13Student Success Coach program focusing on serving and providing support to fully online students.College / University / Program Level Strategy
90
6/10/2014 11:44:14Students who are in an online degree-seeking program within our institution are assigned a Student Retention Coordinator (SRC) they can connect with if issues come up. In addition our SRC's do a lot of outreach initiatives like reminding students about upcoming deadlines, etc.
College / University / Program Level Strategy
91
6/10/2014 11:44:14The university has a page citing what factors make for successful online learners. On an individual level, I talk about strategies in online learning at the beginning of the course. College / University / Program Level Strategy
92
6/10/2014 11:44:15We have a student success team. We are trying to connect our fully online students to university resources and to provide them with extra support. College / University / Program Level Strategy
93
6/10/2014 11:44:18Provide online support Web page for students with information about online program graduate assistants, browser plug-ins, how-to videos, etc.College / University / Program Level Strategy
94
6/10/2014 11:44:18Workshops on practicing good time management skills and writing assistance in an online course, as well as advising and instructor contact to students who are disengaged.College / University / Program Level Strategy
95
6/10/2014 11:44:18we have a team that is directly assigned to proactive activity to support student.
We also follow up with students right away you have not "showed up" to class (online.		College / University / Program Level Strategy
96
6/10/2014 11:44:19Developing an online certification course for instructors teaching/developing online courses.College / University / Program Level Strategy
97
6/10/2014 11:44:20Hiring academic coaches to assist individual students. College / University / Program Level Strategy
98
6/10/2014 11:44:21Early Alert Program. It's run for both F2F & Online, but allows faculty to alert counseling to touch bases with students who show signs of "disappearing."College / University / Program Level Strategy
99
6/10/2014 11:44:21Phone calls to students to ask why they dropped out/stopped outCollege / University / Program Level Strategy
100
6/10/2014 11:44:22I use an introductory video of me, explaining the course and the syllabus. I also use screen casting and grouping to foster community.College / University / Program Level Strategy