With SmarterMeasure you can:

1. Receive data about students' learning styles.
2. Collect data about students' technical skills.
3. Foster dialogue about eLearning challenges.
4. Provide remedial resources to students.
5. Save money by retaining current students.

   

6. Help students identify their weaknesses.
7. Identify students' opportunities for improvement.
8. Meet accreditation requirements.
9. Promote accountability among distance learners.
10. Collect data about your students as a group.

Top 10 Reasons Why you Need SmarterMeasure

Are you planning to attend the 16th Annual Sloan-C Conference in Orlando, FL next week?  You don't want to miss our presentation on Student Retention!  Don't miss out on learning about the 2010 Student Readiness Report!

Student Retention Presentation

A recent article published by Campus Technology highlights what Iowa Valley Community College District (IVCCD) is doing to improve retention rates among online learners.  With 30 percent of its students enrolled in at least one online course, keeping track of student progress is crucial to managing this explosion of growth. 

With consultant recommendations and funding from a Title III Grant, the school has implemented what they hope will be the answer to the tough "retention question."  Addressing weaknesses in their  online program such as faculty development/training, quality of online courses, and student needs, IVCCD implemented Quality Matters, Starfish, and EducationDynamics.  It will be interesting to see their followup report. 

Student Retention

Does anything work to improve retention rates among distance learners?  In a recent article from The Chronicle of Higher Education by Marc Parry, citing a study done by Kennesaw State University, the answer is no.  However, Stacey M. Campbell, assistant professor of management at Kennesaw State and co-author of the retention study, does suggests the problem may not be with the structure of the class but the students themselves.  Fellow co-author, Elke Leeds, believes identifying which students have traits such as time-management and motivation could be the key.

We couldn't agree more.  After reading the article I wanted to email everyone it mentioned and educate them about SmarterMeasure learning readiness indicator.  Research does indicate that poor student readiness contributes to attrition rates in online classes.  SmarterMeasure measures student readiness for online learning or technology rich classes in 6 areas.

1. Individual Attributes (time management, procrastination, etc)
2. Life Factors
3. Learning Styles
4. Technical Competency
5. On-Screen Reading Rate & Recal
6. Typing Speed and Accuracy

Based on extensive research and taken by over 600,000 students from 300+ schools all over the country, SmarterMeasure is a strong piece of the retention puzzle.

Online Retention - Does Anything Work?

Facebook is all the rage. Everyone I know has a Facebook account.  It's no wonder everyone under the sun seems to be doing studies about Facebook and how it is impacting our culture, education, social habits, and consumer spending. In relation to education, The Chronicle of Higher Education references multiple reports in this article including a recently published study in The Journal of College Student Retention that found a connection between the likelihood of Facebookers returning to their initial college after their freshman year. 

While little if any academic impact is noted, it turns out that using social media like Facebook helps students connect, meet friends, and find a place to fit.  This phenom translates into a stronger support system resulting in students staying in school longer.  While all don't admit to being social creatures and may have a "solitary" learning style, the latest findings echo everyone's need to "belong".  Connection gives us identity and draws us to finish what we started when we have others cheering us on.

Facebook: The New Retention Tool?