Marc Pembroke (maplawqb@clic.net)
Mon, 12 Apr 1999 22:41:22 -0400
From: "Marc Pembroke" <maplawqb@clic.net> Subject: Re: Re: IFETS-DISCUSS Digest - 8 Apr 1999 to 9 Apr 1999 Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 22:41:22 -0400
List address to send message to everyone: ifets-discuss@LISTSERV.READADP.COM
Details of current discussion: http://ifets.gmd.de/discuss.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I don't profess to know any statistics on reasons why people drop out of
courses, but I am quite certain that it would be worthwhile to make
distinctions between a number of different cases.
For instance, voluntary verses involuntary courses. Courses which offer
credit and courses which don't, etc. Also, it would be interesting to know
what the experience of the dropouts was before they undertook the course.
Are first-time computer users more likely to drop out than veterans? Are
those who have successfully completed an online course more likely to
complete a second one than those who didn't?
Another question would be about what becomes of the dropouts? Do they try
again later? Do they take face-to-face classes?
How much of the problem is technical? How much is financial? How many people
discover that they needed more time, or more software, or a new modem, or
whatever?
My point is that the marginal "dropout rate" is probably not a very helpful
figure from any perspective. At the same time, it would be useful to know
something about the author's motivations. Does he represent an agency or
group which wants to discourage online learning?
At any rate, I usually take reports of all kinds with some skepticism until
I've seen some data and a bit more background information.
The second complaint is the large dropout rate in on-line education. That
> is like saying that chocolate ice cream has no value to people who like
> vanilla. Students who drop out are making a choice, oftentimes because of
> their own lack of motivation and self-discipline.
Bill Klemm<<
> It is obvious that students are making a choice. But why would you
> attribute it to their lack of motivation and self-discipline? I would be
> very interested in knowing why students drop out of distance courses.
Does
anyone out there have some data to explain why?
Ed Kemery
University of Baltimore
---------------------------------------------------------
Forum website: http://ifets.gmd.de/
Forum's contact person: kinshuk@ieee.org
Info on Join/Leave List: http://ifets.gmd.de/maillist.html
---------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Tue 13 Apr 1999 - 20:28:49 MET DST