Joint Information Systems Committee 13/04/23 | Supporting education and research | Slide 1

Every Learner CountsCan technology help improve student motivation and retention?

Joint Information Systems Committee Supporting education and research

Joint Information Systems Committee

Every Learner Counts: can technology help improve student motivation and retention?

Paul BaileyJISC Programme Manager

13/04/23 | Supporting education and research | Slide 2

Joint Information Systems Committee 13/04/23 | Supporting education and research | Slide 3

Overview and Introductions Student Retention - background

Admissions – technology supported admissions process

Targeted Retention Systems – technology to indentify at risk learners

The role of new technologies in supporting student motivation

– Lucy Stone, Leicester College

– Hesan Yousif, University of Sussex

– Dr Nicola Whitton, Manchester Metropolitan University

Discussion – can technology help improve student motivation and retention? Is there a simple cost benefit argument for investing in technologies to improve student retention….

Joint Information Systems Committee 13/04/23 | Supporting education and research | Slide 4

Student Retention: Why Every Learner Counts Cost per learner lost….

The National Audit Office Report (Feb 2008)

– Loss of income for institutions (vs cost of support)

– Loss of income for Govt (in higher taxes)

– Funding council investment (for WP and retention)

– Worse at bottom than top…

Population shifts 18-20 group (down 85,000+ by 2020)

Credit Crunch?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodimages/1446527479/

Joint Information Systems Committee 13/04/23 | Supporting education and research | Slide 5

Student Retention: NOA Recommendations

Use Management Information Data

Institutional strategic commitment

Student commitment

Academic support

Broaden options for learning

Specialist support

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/goodimages/1446527479/

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Provisos… Student Retention is relatively high compared with rest of world (NAO

Report) – Completion of 3 year degree 78+% (many 90+%)

From IMS LTAC Project Group: Targeted Retention Systems (TRS)

– The average four-year institution in the United States graduated 57% of its students in 6 years (Horn, 2007).

– Only about 20% of community college students complete a degree in 3 years.

Technology is not the only answer – many institutions have systems and processes in place to support learners etc. meeting recommendations of 2008 NOA report)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jarrellg/2404248265/sizes/l

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Admissions – technology supported admissions process

UCAS already provides extensive statistical data for institutions (very sensitive to change – cause and effect)

Technologies to support direct entry routes to HE and FE

– LLNs – course discovery, IAG to support admissions,

Projects promoting fair and transparent admissions

– Better course information available – matching individual and course profiles

– e-Portfolio, supporting the admissions process (e.g. Nottingham 14-19)

UCAS pilot electronic feedback on unsuccessful applicants (to schools and individuals

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Targeted Retention Systems – technology to indentify at risk learners

Targeted retention systems consist of processes and systems to:

1) Identify students at risk of not completing a unit of study (early warning system);

2) Notify at-risk students and relevant stakeholders (early alert systems);

3) Discover the most effective interventions for at-risk students;

4) Deliver targeted interventions;

5) Measure effectiveness of interventions in terms of impact on course and program completion.

Learning Technology Advisory Council Project Group: Targeted Retention Systems http://www.imsproject.org/ia.html

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Question

What is your experience of technologies supporting learner retention?

2 minutes speaking to the people next to you.

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The role of new technologies in supporting student motivation

Lucy Stone, Leicester College – Supporting Work Based Learners in Further Education

Hesan Yousif, University of Sussex -

Dr Nicola Whitton, Manchester Metropolitan University – Alternative Reality Gaming

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Discussion

Can technology help improve student motivation and retention?

– Question to presenters/panel members

– Examples/issues from the audience

– Does your institution invest enough in processes and technologies to support student retention and motivation?

If there is a simple cost benefit argument for investing in technologies to improve student retention, where should it be

A. Improving admissions (i.e. support pre-entry)

B. Target retention systems (early detection)

C. Investing in staff to improve student motivation (personal touch)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/george53/1049051049

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Contact Details

Paul Bailey p.bailey@jisc.ac.uk

http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elearning

Hesan Yousif, University of Sussex, h.d.yousif@sussex.ac.uk

Lucy Stone, Leicester College, lstone@lec.ac.uk

Dr Nicola Whitton, N.Whitton@mmu.ac.uk