Predictors of Success for Online Learners
Uploaded to Flickr on March 20, 2008 by Mr_Stein
I just came across this interesting article in the Journal of Educator’s Online: July 2006 edition: Engaging Learner Attribute Research in Dialogue with Classroom Practice: Predictors of Success in the Accelerated, Online Classroom reported on a sample of online faculty response to the question “What do you see as the five factors most likely to predict a student’s successful completion of an online course?”
Of six identified themes, four issues emerged as the most relevant to the issue of online learner success:
• Time
• Technology Literacy
• Initiative
• Competence
According to the 96 instructor respondents, the most successful online learners:
• Participate early and often
• Practice effective time management strategies
• Take the initiative to solve problems and ask questions
• Demonstrate basic levels of technical proficiency in the online environment
• Are competent writers and communicators.
In addition, instructors cited several other competencies that contribute to success in the online classroom: focus on detail, awareness of institutional support services, successful completion of prerequisite coursework, and critical thinking skills.
“While these factors are not unique to the online classroom, they are especially important in a learning environment that forces students to work more independently and autonomously.” (p.9)
UBC’s Office of Learning Technology recognizes the importance of both learner competencies and instructor competence in creating a learning environment that supports the development of some of the competencies that have been highlighted here. Resources that you may find useful to incorporate in your course include:
8 Things to Get a Handle On: Online Learner Competencies
Learners’ Links (included in WebCT/Vista course environments developed by OLT).
Online Teaching Modules: a work in progress – first phase to be complete in fall 2009 and integrated into the Online Teaching Orientation course in WebCTVista.