Abstract
As institutions of higher education increasingly utilize online learning management systems, college students are asked to submit more assignments online. Under this regime, when most assignments are posted and submitted online, it is possible to know if a student is missing a submission for an imminent deadline, and to intervene proactively to reduce missed assignments and improve student outcomes. Toward this goal, we designed and evaluated a scalable targeted intervention: a mobile app that would deploy push notifications when students were missing submissions for assignments with imminent deadlines. Results from two experimental pilots demonstrate that this intervention system significantly decreased missed assignments compared with control notifications about instructor announcements to the class (in Experiment 1), and improved assignment adherence and course grades compared with courses that were not using the app (in Experiment 2). In this article, we discuss the benefits and theoretical implications of this behavioral guide rail, a purely informative proactive intervention to mitigate risk in advance of a negative outcome.
Highlights
T HESE days, our banks notify us when we have a low balance, our email clients suggest when we have forgotten to include attachments, and our cars alert us when we might be approaching a collision
The most noteworthy finding was that participants had a significant tendency to submit more assignments (3.7% increase; 95% highest density interval (HDI): 0.01 to 7.3%) when they received assignment reminders than when they received instructor announcements
Secondary analyses of treatment order found that improvements in submission rates were directionally larger in the group that received assignment reminders in the first half of the semester (5.1% increase) compared with the group that first received notifications about instructor announcements (2.3% increase); this contrast is underpowered and the difference between these groups is not reliably different from zero (95% HDI: À4.0% to 10%)
Summary
T HESE days, our banks notify us when we have a low balance, our email clients suggest when we have forgotten to include attachments, and our cars alert us when we might be approaching a collision. While these systems do not entirely curtail our freedoms to overdraw our checking accounts or to crash into trees, they do mitigate risk from neglect or accidental misuse of the system. Current proliferations of educational technologies, and in particular, web-based learning management systems (LMSs; e.g., Blackboard, Canvas, Brightspace), have created an abundance of opportunities for students to actively engage with their studies. In blended and online learning environments, a student’s ability to stay on top material and requirements is a dominant factor in the student’s retention in the course [5], [6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
