Early Warnings Leading to Increased Retention - It Works!Ida M. Jones-idaj@csufresno.edu

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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, Fresnoidaj@csufresno.edu

I have used Blackboard for 14 years.

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

OUR CHALLENGE

Retaining students by keeping students engaged-especially so online

#BbWorld13 idaj

OUR SOLUTION-THEME

“Touch every student individually” at least once during the first two-three weeks

#BbWorld13 idaj

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!!

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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

#BbWorld13 idaj

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/

#BbWorld13 idaj

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, Fresnoidaj@csufresno.edu

#BbWorld13 idaj