Retention in Online Courses

TLDR

Online courses are experiencing declining student retention despite rising enrollment, prompting a need to review evolving learner and faculty behaviors to better understand and address attrition in contemporary learning environments. The article aims to review literature to identify key causes of high attrition in online courses and propose solutions to improve retention, laying groundwork for further research. The authors conduct a literature review to identify causes of high attrition and explore retention‑boosting solutions.

Abstract

Despite increasing enrollment percentages from earlier years, online courses continue to show receding student retention rates. To reduce attrition and ensure continual growth in online courses, it is important to continue to review current and updated literature to understand the changing behaviors of online learners and faculty in the 21st century and examine how they fit together as a cohesive educational unit. This article reviews literature to ascertain critical reasons for high attrition rates in online classes, as well as explore solutions to boost retention rates. This will help create a starting point and foundation for a more, in-depth research and analysis of retention issues in online courses. Examining these issues is critical to contemporary learning environments.