Using Learner Readiness To Improve Online Student Retention Dr. Mac AdkinseLearningToolBox.com

AgendaReflections on learner readiness2009 Online Student Readiness Report – Dr. Mac Adkins

Facts About Distance LearningDistance learning enrollments continue to grow.Current economic conditions are prompting many adult learners to consider distance learning.Some persons are more ready for distance learning than others.

It Is A New Way To LearnMost of us learned how to learn in a typical classroom.

More factsSome students are more ready for elearning than others.eLearning is a better fit for some students than others.

Your choices …

Wouldn’t Your School Like To …Know which students are a good fit for distance learning.Know which students are at risk of not doing well learning at a distance.Have a dialogue with students about learning online.Provide resource to help online students succeed.

READI – Readiness for Education At a Distance IndicatorOnline tool that measures a student’s level of readiness for studying onlineUsed by over 330 Colleges and UniversitiesTaken about a half million students

What Does READI Measure?Individual AttributesMotivation, Procrastination, Willingness to Ask for Help, etc.Learning Styles Based on the Multiple Intelligences modelTechnical Skills & CompetencyOn-Screen Reading Rate & RecallTyping Speed & Accuracy

Versions of READIWidely used at the college level.New version which is developmentally appropriate for secondary school students was just released.Spanish version is being developed.Malay version is being developed for the Open University in Malaysia.

2009 National Student Readiness ReportNational data on online student readiness

Participants150,065 unique students who took the READI assessment from June 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009272 Educational Institutions42 States

Demographic Profile65% were female61% were Caucasian/white65% had never taken an online course before32% were traditional aged college students67% were students at an associates level institution

Demographic Profile28% had “social” as their dominant learning style42% scored within the 80% – 89% range on the personal attributes scale27% recalled 90% or more of the reading passage

Demographic Profile27% demonstrated between 90% – 100% accuracy on the typing skills test and typed an average of 28.02 words per minute32% exhibited between 70% – 79% of mastery of technical knowledge58% scored 100% on the technical competency skills tests

GenderFemales were found to have statistically significant higher means on the constructs of learning styles, individual attributes, typing speed, typing accuracy and reading recall. Males were found to have statistically significant higher means on the constructs of technical competency and technical knowledge.

EthnicityCaucasian/White reported the highest means for learning styles, technical competency, and reading recall. African American reported the highest mean for personal attributes. Asian or Pacific Islander reported the highest means for technical knowledge, typing speed and typing accuracy.

Age RangeGenerally speaking, the results indicated that age does matter. For constructs related to personal maturity, older students had the highest means. For constructs related to technical matters, younger students had the highest means.

Age Range - Constructs

Age Range - Attributes

Number of Prior Online CoursesThe results strongly demonstrated that with online learning, experience matters. In all seven constructs measured persons who reported having taken five or more prior online courses reported the highest mean. The greatest difference in means from students with no prior online course experience and those who had taken five or more courses was in the area of technical knowledge. This indicates that with experience students can learn to use the technology required for online courses.

Institution TypeSignificant differences did exist between the institution types with Doctorate Granting Universities reporting the highest means for learning styles, technical competency, technical knowledge, and typing speed. Special Focus Institutions (schools preparing students for specific careers) reported the highest means for typing accuracy and reading recall.Baccalaureate Colleges reported the highest means for personal attributes.

Individual AttributesGender: Additional analysis was conducted on this construct to reveal that females have higher individual attributes on all factors except locus of control. Ethnicity: African Americans reported the highest means on all categories except locus of control which was reported by Latino / Hispanic.

Individual AttributesNumber of Courses: In all five factors the highest mean existed for persons who had taken five or more online courses. This indicates that as a person’s experience with online courses increases, that the degree to which their personal attributes are a good match for distance learning also increases. Age Range: In this analysis it is clear that one’s individual attributes in relation to online learning do improve with age. The highest means for all factors except help seeking were demonstrated by students 48 years or older.

Individual AttributesStudents at Baccalaureate Colleges reported the highest means for help seeking, time management and academic attributes. Students at Special Focus Institutions (which prepare students for specific careers) reported the highest means for procrastination and persistence. Learners at Corporations reported the highest means for locus of control.

Learn Morewww.readi.infoRequest a free pilot of READIsales@readi.info(877) 411 ELTB (3582) Toll FreeA product of eLearningToolBox.com

Tour of READIStudent viewwww.readi.infoAdministrator/Faculty viewadmin.readi.info

WWW.READI.INFO

Information about the instrument

Reliability and Validity Information

Login Screen

Custom User Interface

School Specific Questions

Ability to Stop and Start the Assessment

Automated PIN Email

Note the Ability to Change Text Size

Info About The Reading Passages

Results Reported in School’s Interface

Color Coded Results

Graphical Results

Reporting National Averages is an Option

Tabbed Sections of the Report

Free Resources Provided for Each SectionSchools can Provide Info AboutTheir Own Resources

Detailed Info On Each Learning Style

Results Graphically, Textually and NumericallyReported

READI Administrative AreaCan be used by faculty and staff who are reviewing the student’s READI scores.

Usage Metrics

Results At A Glance

User Group Set-up

Assessment Settings

School Specific Questions

School Specific Instructions

Search & Export Data

Data Export Options

Email or Delete Selected Students

How Do Schools Use READI?Source: 2008 READI Usage Survey

READI Usage PatternsMost schools provide READI as an option to students but about 30% of schools do require that students take READI.Most schools make READI available to all students but about 30% make it available only to distance education students.About 30% of schools go over the READI scores one-to-one with students.

Comments About READI UsageREADI offers a realistic view of one's ability to navigate in an online learning environment. It also highlights the individual's potential conflict area, i.e., doesn't have a computer, etc. From our perspective, READI offers an unbiased, objective overview of the student's ability to succeed in an online learning environment.Students are encouraged to use the data for their own benefit. Many report sharing the data with parents and friends, and say the data is helpful in their online studies.We use the data to learn more about student demographics, learning styles, and preparedness for participating in online classes. The information we gather from READI informs the development of student services/tutorials.READI addresses all the major problems that online students face. Even if a student takes an online class when READI seems to indicate that the student is probably not prepared, at least that student knows what to expect.

Comments about READI UsageI believe that the students enjoy the ease of the testing and immediate results. I think it is a very easy to use and user friendly tool. I appreciate the fact that you allow storage of previous assessments.READI is a great pre-assessment tool for those students who would have the intention to go through flexible learning. It allows both students and administrators to determine where the students stand in terms of the technical knowledge, competency skills and the personal attributes in order to achieve Student Success. Likewise, the READI is a good tool to develop a baseline for student demographics to better improve the institution effectiveness plan (IEP).READI helped our department dispel some myths about student preparedness. It helps us bring look carefully at other variables that affect student success, rather than "lack of technology experience"

Student Comments About READI"I was concerned about taking an online course. Reading your READI report gave me confidence, which is what I lacked to start the courses. It made me realize that I really wasn't giving myself enough credit. While the course has not been easy, and I have had to work hard, I am successful." "It was a very interesting assessment! I learned things about my learning style that I did not know. And yes, it was on the mark in estimating my comfort level and degree of success in taking courses online." "I think it is a good assessment, it makes the prospective student aware of the difference from a traditional classroom setting. Overall I give the assessment an A plus."

Learn Morewww.readi.infoRequest a free pilot of READIsales@readi.info(877) 411 ELTB (3582) Toll FreeA product of eLearningToolBox.com