Abstract
In the U.S., only 38 of every 100 ninth graders enroll in college; of these 38, only 18 complete bachelors’ degrees within six years. Asynchronous learning networks (ALN)—asynchronous, highly interactive, instructor-led, resource-rich, cohort-based learning—can yield high success rates. Growing demand for online education and the expectation among higher education leaders that ALN learning outcomes will exceed face to face outcomes reflect belief in ALN’s power to engage learners. Sloan-C’s body of research confirms that ALN is especially suited for the anytime, anywhere, affordable access that is responsive to learners in a knowledge society. In fact, the original principles of ALN are the same principles that characterize ALN programs that have high student success rates. This paper includes vignettes from two and four-year ALN programs that have used these principles to achieve high success rates.
Highlights
Affordable access to quality learning with comprehensive breadth of choice is the goal of the Sloan Consortium
According to the Community College Survey of Student Engagement: For every year that you add to the average educational attainment level of the population, you add 5 to 15 percent in economic growth
THIRTEEN WAYS OF LOOKING AT SUCCESS: TWO AND FOUR YEAR PROGRAMS WITH HIGH COURSE COMPLETION RATES. It is not unusual for online completion rates at the graduate level to be 90% or higher, rates that are commensurate with face to face graduate programs
Summary
As demand for ALN grows [33], it is useful to understand the practices that improve online learning, cost effectiveness and institutional commitment, access, and student and faculty satisfaction. Schreck explains that “strengthening the relationship between variables...is more important than improving variables in isolation....online course retention is a direct reflection of how well an institution establishes an inquiry process (i.e., how well they research, build understanding, and implement that understanding) into four major areas: courses, teachers, students, and administrative” [44] Applying these strategies yields measurable improvements in learning outcomes, costs, and success rates [46]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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 call
