Friday, March 24, 2017

Guidelines for Improving Student Success in Higher Education

National Guidelines for Improving Student Outcomes in Online Learning  have been released by NCSEHE and  University of Newcastle. There is also a Report detailing the research the guidelines are based on and Executive Summary. I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Cathy Stone when she was conducting this work as 2016 Equity Fellow at the National Centre for Student Equity inHigher Education (NCSEHE). While intended for on-line learning, I suggest these guidelines are equally applicable to learning in general. We are at the e-learning tipping point, where students will be spending little, if any of their time in conventional lecture theaters (ANU is demolishing its central lecture theater building in July).
  1. Know who the students are
  2. Develop, implement and regularly review institution-wide quality standards for delivery of online education
  3. Intervene early to address student expectations, build skills and engagement
  4. Explicitly value and support the vital role of ‘teacher-presence’
  5. Design for online
  6. Engage and support through content and delivery
  7. Build collaboration across campus to offer holistic, integrated and embedded student support
  8. Contact and communicate throughout the student journey
  9. Use learning analytics to target and personalise student interventions
  10. Invest in online education to ensure access and opportunity
From National Guidelines for Improving Student Outcomes in Online Learning  , Cathy Stone, NCSEHE and University of Newcastle, March 2017.

2 comments:

  1. I mostly agree with this guideline and would like to add a certain element which most of us who have taught both online and in the physical classroom tend to overlook, or not be aware that exists. The simple, yet strong, feelings of students. I found this in my doctoral research and was nicely affirmed by Rebecca Cox in her book, 'The College Fear Factor.' My dissertation is entitiled 'Persistence of Community College Students and Faculty on Persistence in Developmental Reading.' Although the latter is specific to developmental reading, the end revelation was and is that it applies to all students of any level or subject. Thank you for your insights.

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  2. Lisa's thesis is available on-line:

    Aofrate, L. H. (2016). Perceptions of Community College Students and Faculty on Persistence in Developmental Reading. Retrieved from http://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2516/

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