ERIC Number: EJ745212
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 9
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0883-2323
EISSN: N/A
Retaining the Online Learner: Profile of Students in an Online MBA Program and Implications for Teaching Them
Bocchi, Joe; Eastman, Jacqueline K.; Swift, Cathy Owens
Journal of Education for Business, v79 n4 p245-253 Mar-Apr 2004
Research regarding student cohorts entering the Georgia WebMBA[R] program (an online MBA program in the University System of Georgia) shows consistent demographic characteristics as well as students' reasons for joining the program, experience with online learning, and perceptions of teamwork. The program has a high retention rate, and in this article the authors focus on retaining online learners. They discuss the profile of program students and the teaching approaches that have been successful in addressing potential attrition issues with these learners. To retain virtual learners, the program provides a cohort- and team-based learning experience with extensive faculty feedback and interaction to address isolation concerns, provide application-based content and activities, and help students meet expectations for personal and professional growth. The authors also stress the need to offer a well-managed program and faculty members who are both interested and competent in teaching in the online learning environment. (Contains 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Profiles, Online Courses, Teaching Methods, Grouping (Instructional Purposes), Teamwork, Student Attrition, Learning Experience, Feedback, Professional Development, Masters Programs, Graduate Students, Program Effectiveness, Web Based Instruction, School Holding Power, Academic Persistence, Business Administration Education, Cooperative Learning, Graduate Study, Computer Uses in Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Georgia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A