Motivating and Retaining Online Students / Online Teaching and Learning Series Bd.1 (ePub)

Finally, the first research-based book of sound strategies and best
practices to help instructors motivate students to complete their
online courses.

Although studies support the effectiveness of learning online,
students often fail to complete online courses. Some studies have
found that as many as 50-70% drop out of their online courses
or programs. Retention is not only a growing expectation and
imperative, but it is also as opportunity for faculty members to
take the lead in innovating, researching, and implementing new
strategies while demonstrating their effectiveness.

Designed for instructors and instructional designers, Motivating
and Retaining Online Students is filled with empirical research
from the authors' study of motivation and retention
strategies that can reduce online learner dropout. Focusing on
the most important issues instructors face, such as course design;
student engagement and motivation; and institutional,
instructional, and informal student support strategies, the
book provides effective online strategies that help minimize
student dropout, increase student retention, and support student
learning.

While helping to improve the overall retention rates for
educational institutions, the strategies outlined in the book
also allow for student diversity and individual learner
differences. Lehman and Conceição's proven model
gives instructors an effective approach to help students persist in
online courses and succeed as learners.