Today, eLearning is growing fast with a huge number of students joining each year. However, a big problem has arisen when 40% to 80% learners drop out learning online course. Likewise, the number of students coming back and finishing the course is relatively low compared to the development of eLearning nowadays. So, what are the reasons for this problem? And, how to increase eLearning retention rates? Let find out.

Reason behind low retention rates in online courses

The retention rate is high or low depends much on course’s performance. Indeed, it’s right that an effective course with cohesive content, eye-catching design and wise structure usually has a higher retention rate than others. However, if your course is having a high drop-out rate, might be the problem doesn’t lie in content or design. In fact, low eLearning retention rates could cause by so different elements. So, here are some common reasons that you should give an eye on:

Technical issue

First of all, it is true that we are living in an era of technology. However, not all people can use technology fluently. But, most instructors assume that their learners are excellent at technology. Therefore, they usually create a learning platform which is modern but sometimes could be hard and complex to use. And, once students are interrupted by technical issue, they are more likely to give up and quit the course.

Problem of self-paced learning

Undeniably, self-paced learning  is a breakthrough element in eLearning. However, being alone could also be the main reason that make learners lose their desire to learn. To avoid feeling isolated, learners need someone there to connect and motivate them to learn. Truly, most eLearning course does not take this issue into account as they don’t realize it. For them, self-paced is an advantage of eLearning thus learners don’t need peers or instructors when studying. And, unluckily they lose a significant number of learners.

How to increase retention rate?

A friendly platform

When learners first come to your course, they are new with your platform. Therefore, a friendly platform that doesn’t need any additional technical requirements should be a plus to make a good impression. Besides, your could add a simple guideline to give a better  experience for learners when diving into your course. Let them know what to do and how to do. By doing this, they could feel more welcoming when joining in your class.

A clear and easy-to-follow platform from Coursera

A specific target

Setting a goal for learners is relatively important in increasing eLearning retention rates. Nowadays, most courses give learners a very ambiguous picture. In detail, learners rarely know what they will get during and after the course. Therefore, you not only need to create a clear learning path for them but also giving them a target at the end of the course.  For example, you could create a different level for learners. Or, you can provide a checklist and a brief overview for your course. As a result, learners are able to visualize where they are and how much they should achieved. And, they will be attempted to hit each level one by one to accomplish the goal.  

Interactivity

Interactivity is a powerful tool to make learners attach with the course more. Indeed, some studies indicate that eLearning course which includes interactions can boost the retention rates from 50% to 90%. To create an excellent eLearning course, you should know how to place interactivity in the right way and the right time. Therefore, we list down some methods below which can help you to increase interactivity in your eLearning course.

Boost your retention rates by increasing interactivity now!

1. Applying video-based learning

There are three types of video-based which can be adopted in your eLearning course. Therefore, to help you choose the best-fit, here are the pros and cons of each video type.

• Self-record video is one type of learning is pretty similar to the traditional one. To be more specific, it can enhance teachers’ presence. For example, instructors could post a video explaining the lessons by recording themselves. However, the self-record video fits with long but not too complex content. 
• Live-action video can feel the lessons most realistic and more lively to learners. However, the cost of producing a live-action video is relatively high. Therefore, most instructors only do this when they need real-life detail and emotional impact in their eLearning course.
• Animation is the most powerful video-based learning to explain hard and complicated topics in an interesting way. Furthermore, by using different characters in a real context, instructors are able to raise sympathy with learners. And, with the storytelling method and voiceover, animation helps the course become consistent and appealing.

2. Enhancing collaborative learning environment

It is undeniable that creating an interactive learning community for learners is essential. However, maintaining the collaborative environment is also important. Indeed, interactivity will lose its meaning if nobody is active in the community. As a creator, you should create different activities and give some solving tasks for learners. So that, this could encourage group work, commitment, and individual accountability of them.

3. Adding interesting and personal stories related to lesson

Reversing your learning materials into interesting stories is much better than keeping them in academic theories. Besides, you should tell learners some experimental stories for learners. As a result, learners will be more engaged in the lesson and attracted into the course. For example, Aviassist used animation to explain the operation of RPAS drone. Specifically, they deliver complex information to learners by creating attractive scenes and funny situations of the characters in the video. Thanks to the story-telling method, the technical story become much more interesting.

Conclusion

By now, you’ve gotten main reasons that keep retention rates become so low and how to deal with it. Among great tips to increase retention rates, interactivity could be the most effective tool for you as it directly impacts students’ natural  learning behavior. However, pay attention to use it wisely. Because we add interactivity in eLearning to increase course’s effectiveness, not to distract learners.  

Read Further:

• Adapt animated learning videos as effective method of teaching science
• How to measure student engagement in eLearning
• How to be an effective online instructor
• Developing Animations for Education: Where to start?