Use Student Momentum graphing to target and prioritize course revisions within limited designer time and resources¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The authors advance M graphing as a resource-efficient design tool: rather than concluding an entire course needs revision from its overall dropout rate, designers can identify Course Walls and revise only specific areas. They state that "By identifying Course Walls and targeting specific areas of the courses for revision, more courses can be revised within the constraints of time and resources faced by every instructional designer." They note the calculation requires only simple data organization and a spreadsheet, making it accessible to programs of different sizes.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Course dropout data organized by lesson completed, which a spreadsheet tool can handle for calculating and graphing M

Constraints¶

• The authors note potential causes of a wall, such as feedback quality, student-student interaction, and technological challenges, must be diagnosed by the designer once a wall is identified

Target Learners¶

• instructional designers of online distance education courses

Target Learning Goals¶

• efficient allocation of course revision resources to reduce dropout

Affordances¶

• Student Momentum Indicator Theory

Related Strategies¶

• Prioritize redesign of late, back-to-back, and spanning Course Walls, where momentum recovery is least likely

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Steven S. Christensen & Jonathan S. Spackman. (2016). Dropout Rates, Student Momentum, and Course Walls: A New Tool for Distance Education Designers. Journal of Educators Online. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1150708