Poster #17 - Timing of Engagement, Disengagement, and Retention in a Distance Learning Setting

• In Event: 25.087 - MTCC Poster Session Four
  In Poster Session: 25.087-3 - Distance and Online Education

Abstract

Student retention remains a critical issue in higher education, especially in online settings. To design effective interventions, institutions need a better understanding of how and when students stopped engaging and eventually dropping out. This study investigates the duration between disengagement and withdrawal and how students engage in the study before withdrawing from the course. Using a mixed-effect model on fine-grained trace data of 151 withdrawn students in an online course over two semesters, we found that most students dropped out within four weeks after disengaging from the study. Students were increasingly catching up with their study as they approached their withdrawal decision. These findings aligned with existing theories in time management and self-regulation skills, and previous findings in retention literature.

Authors

• Quan Nguyen, The Open University

• Bart Rienties