The retention rate at cyberschools in PA is not supposed to be very good. Albeit the dropout rate at regular schools can also be high, are there any reasons you can think of for dropping out of cyberschool? ...or ways to increase cyberschool retention rates?
http://www.examiner.com/x-20380-Detroit-Foster-Families-Examiner~y2009m8d28-From-the-ashes-of-education-comes-cyberlearning
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Online classes require self-motivation, especially if there aren't deadlines put into place. From experience, online classes are hard for some students to manage. They don't provide a lot of structure, which for many students is essential for their learning style. Without the structure and discipline of a regular classroom, cyber school students may find it difficult to stay on task and get their assignments completed efficiently. This could mean that by the end of the semester, students have more assignments to complete than they've anticipated and may become overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion to keep students from dropping out of cyber school would be to put more discipline in place. Deadlines will help students stay on task and turn things in on time without becoming too overwhelmed. Another suggestion would be to frequently recommend meeting with an advisor or teacher through Skype or some other video software. This may help boost students' confidence by being reassured that they are performing well in their classes, and also let them know where they stand in the class and how they can improve if need be.
On of the issues with cyber schools is that the student will have to deal with a lot of distractions. The distractions will cause them to not want to complete their work and won't motivate them. Such distractions will come from the TV, computer, phone, family, friends, etc. Some cyber schools don't even set dealines and have no structure, making it more difficult for the student to stay focused and determined to get work accomplished. Deadlines are a must in order to keep the students on track and focused. Without deadlines, the student will wait to the last minute to complete their work and do it 'half fast'.
ReplyDeleteObviously deadlines are important and there has to be a way to limit distractions. Student conferences would be an idea so that the teachers can always know the progress of the students. Using Skype as Brianne suggested would be an excellent idea on how to keep things working and building confidence.
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