Achievements and Attrition: Investigating an Online Course

Research has shown that dropout rates for online courses are significantly higher than those for classroom-based learning. A number of valid reasons have been given for online learners not completing courses but it remains a challenge for online providers to engage, motivate and retain their students. This paper investigates one provider delivering one specific course online by analysing the completion rates of all learners over a period of three years. Learners start at times convenient to them and have a deadline of one month to complete on this open-access course, which is structured and tutor-supported.  The course results in an accredited Ofqual-approved qualification, and learners need to deliver a short teaching session via a live Teams or Zoom session, which is evaluated by a qualified teacher. Learners come from a wide range of sectors including beauty, retail, dentistry, life sciences, manufacturing and care. All are in fulltime employment, therefore fall within the category of part-time adult learners, a group that often has high attrition rates due to their daily commitments. Findings from this study show that completion rates for the online course (93.6%) compare favorably with in-person classroom teaching (95%). These findings also show an exceptionally high rate of completions compared with other types of online courses. Tutor support, a structured course design, professional certification and learner aspiration all point towards ways in which learners can be engaged and motivated to achieve.