There are a number of reasons why people usually opt to pursue higher education over the World Wide Web. Some
of the most common benefits of this online method include:
- Option to study from one’s comfort zone without attending a college class
- One can choose the time and duration of the class as per his/her need
- Everything, from assignments to assessment, can be done over the internet
- One can sign up for the course of his interest from anywhere in the world.
- The fees as well as other associated charges are comparatively lower
- A person can even customize his online package as per his need
- He has the option to choose any subject as per his interest.
At the same time, besides getting a student sign up for an online education program, it is equally important for the college management to make efforts for retaining him/her. Over the past few years, the rate at which online students have been dropping out in the middle of the course has been rather notable. As per a recent survey for the University of West Georgia, the retention rate for online students over the past few years came out to be 68%, as compared to 90% for the regular students.
Several reasons can attribute to these aforementioned figures, such as availability of lesser time, family commitments, job pressure, unable to grasp too much download in one go, different study pattern, and more. As compared to a regular classroom program, the role of a teacher/trainer for an online program is much more than a content guide. These students often don’t even respond to emails once they start striding off the track, which can be seen as one of the first signs of their dissent.
What needs to be done here?
Online Orientation before the class commences is one thing that can break the ice between the trainer and all the students. Doing so is necessary too, since that gives a more personalized feeling to every student, and that he belongs in there, and has to be there until the end of the course. Attending the orientation session can lend several other benefits too, such as:
- Clarify one’s doubts about the course or anything else related to it
- Gain the right direction for a promising career
- Understand necessary concepts such as time management, important subjects, etc.
- Identify one’s weakness and strengths in terms of course being chosen by him/her
- Gain hands-on experience of the technology to use in due course of time
- Doing away with any other roadblock which can affect the student’s academic courseware or grades
The prime idea behind such orientation programs is to introduce the student with college life even while pursuing the course online. It is meant to welcome the students onboard and help them with all the resources offered by the college which can also be availed online. Taking feedback from the students after the session can also help the management make amends (if needed) to make the orientation program even better for future students.
To learn more, you can join expert speaker Kent Seaver in this live webinar on Developing Orientation Modules That Work for the Online Student. Kent will discuss the engaging solutions that can help you understand the need for prompt interventions, which also include hosting orientation programs successfully.
