Week Two: What percentage of students drop out of online courses?

Fifty percent of students drop out of online courses! (http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter64/brooks64.htm , Brooks, 2003 Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, How the Attitudes of Instructors, Students, Course Administrators, and Course Designers Affects the Quality of an
Online Learning Environment, Winter 2003 - Volume VI, Number IV) One of the reasons that a student may drop out is that he or she enrolled in the course for the wrong reasons. Many times a student may have the perception that there are no deadlines or structure to an online course, that it is easy and does not take much study time. A student may also perceive that all the lessons will be available online and that there will be no collaboration or time spent offline. It could be the exact opposite. Many online classes (like the ones I took at Boise State University) require many hours a week of dedication and some structure and collaboration with other students. Another reason may be that a student needs auditory or face-to-face contact to learn. Many students also need support from other students and may not know how to find it in an online course. Lack of skills in technology tools is sometimes a reason. Students need to realize that they can enhance and improve their technology skills in an online learning situation if they have the desire to stick with the course for just that reason. Finally, some students drop out for family and personal reasons, and that reason is usually not documented by research.

For the reasons stated, the burden for keeping a student enrolled in an online class seems to be on the instructor and ultimately, on the University. Instructors need to outline well ahead of the time, the syllabus, with a timeline, and the technology skills needed.