Motivating and Retaining Online Students

Finally, the first research-based book of sound strategies and bestpractices to help instructors motivate students to complete theironline courses.Although studies support the effectiveness of learning online,students often fail to complete online courses. Some studies havefound that as many as 50-70% drop out of their online coursesor programs. Retention is not only a growing expectation andimperative, but it is also as opportunity for faculty members totake the lead in innovating, researching, and implementing newstrategies while demonstrating their effectiveness.Designed for instructors and instructional designers, Motivatingand Retaining Online Students is filled with empirical researchfrom the authors' study of motivation and retentionstrategies that can reduce online learner dropout. Focusing onthe most important issues instructors face, such as course design;student engagement and motivation; and institutional,instructional, and informal student support strategies, thebook provides effective online strategies that help minimizestudent dropout, increase student retention, and support studentlearning.While helping to improve the overall retention rates foreducational institutions, the strategies outlined in the bookalso allow for student diversity and individual learnerdifferences. Lehman and Conceição's proven modelgives instructors an effective approach to help students persist inonline courses and succeed as learners.