This document discusses how Ida Jones used Blackboard's Early Warning System to increase student retention and performance in an online business law course at California State University, Fresno. She sent frequent emails and acknowledgments to students during the first few weeks of class to engage them. This "high touch" approach led to a significant increase in course completion rates and a reduction in failing grades and incompletes over time. A survey found that students felt the instructor acknowledged their participation and helped build a sense of community in the online course. The presentation provides tips for using the Early Warning System and frequent email contact to improve online student retention.

1. Early Warnings
Leading to Increased
Retention - It Works!
Ida M. Jones-idaj@csufresno.edu
Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business Law
Director, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of Learning
and Teaching
California State University, Fresno

2. THE ISSUE
Online courses work well for students who are self-directed and do
not mind the perceived impersonal nature of the courses. Online
courses are more challenging for learners who are not organized and
students tend to 'forget' about the course.
This presenter has used Blackboard Learn's Early Warning System to
increase the number of students who 'attend' and perform
satisfactorily in a required course that is only taught online. In this
session, you will get some tips for engaging and involving students
from the start and increasing retention
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3. ABOUT ME
Ida M. Jones
• Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business
Law
• Director, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of
Learning and Teaching
• California State University, Fresno
idaj@csufresno.edu
I have used Blackboard for 14 years.
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4. ABOUT MY INSTITUTION
California State University, Fresno
• 4 year institution
• 8 schools
• Some masters degrees programs
• Several Ph.D granting programs
• Blackboard campus since 1999
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5. ABOUT THE COURSE
Business law-required course for business majors
4-units at Fresno State; 3 units at many other colleges
This is the required 1-unit course for those who took
the course at one of the “other” colleges
• Taught 1X year, only online
• Taught as an 8-week course
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6. WHAT WE ARE GOING
TO LEARN TODAY
Takeaway number one:
Tips and strategies to engage students from (prior to)
day 1 of your online course
Takeaway number two:
Record-keeping simplified
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7. OUR CHALLENGE
Retaining students by
keeping students engaged-
especially so online
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8. OUR SOLUTION-
THEME
“Touch every student
individually” at least once
during the first two-three
weeks
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9. OUR SOLUTION-TIPS
AND STRATEGIES
• Announcements
• Public acknowledgement of contribution
• Posting in Class FAQ Forum
• Posting in Groups’ Forums
• Post to the group
• Comment/e-mail to individual on posts
within the group
• E-mails-Early Warning System
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10. SUCCESS!!
0
18.4
36.8
55.2
73.6
92
Completion
Percent
Unofficlal
Drops Percent
Percent of F
Grades
Percent of
Incompletes
Fall 2002
Fall 2010
Fall 2011
Fall 2012
Increase in Student Retention Using Bb Early
Warning System
Characteristic
Statistics from BA88 Fall 2002-Fall 2012
Percentage
of
Students
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11. STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF “HIGH
TOUCH” ACTIVITIES
Strongly Agree
43%
Agree
35%
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
22%
Overall, the instructor acknowledged student participation
in the course.
Strongly Agree
Agree
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12. BUILDING
COMMUNITY
Strongly
Agree
52%
Agree
26%
Neither Agree
nor Disagree
22%
Overall, the instructor’s actions reinforced the
development of a sense of community among course
participants. BA88F08
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor
Disagree
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13. PROMOTING
LEARNING
Strongly Agree
22%
Agree
17%
Neither
Agree nor
Disagree
52%
Disagree
9%
Overall, the instructor provided feedback that helped
me understand my strengths and weaknesses.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Disagree
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14. DO THIS NEXT
Create a schedule and draft of e-mails for the first three
weeks of the semester.
For more information & samples:
https://sites.google.com/site/bb2013earlywarningsystem/
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15. THANK YOU!
Ida M. JONES
Verna Mae & Wayne D. Brooks Professor of Business
Law
Director, Center for the Scholarly Advancement of
Learning and Teaching
California State University, Fresno
idaj@csufresno.edu
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