KNOWLEDGE-PULL EDUCATION: STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE STUDENT RETENTION IN E-LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Kathleen Deery, Ph.D.Christopher Smith

University of Wisconsin-Stout, USA

INFORMATION IS FREESo, why do students attend an institution of

higher learning?

• For the credential• To secure better employment • To meet external expectations (from family,

peers & society at large)

LEARNING PROCESSES ARE THE SAME…

Creating

Evaluating

Analyzing

Applying

Understanding

Remembering

…BUT LEARNING SYSTEMS ARE EVOLVING

SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEM DIFFERENTLY

Creating

Evaluating

Analyzing

Applying

Understanding

Remembering

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT STUDENT RETENTION?

We’re pushing when we need to pull

Push

• The creation of goods and services in anticipation of consumer needs

Pull

• Consumer-driven ‘made to order’ goods and services

“PUSH” BUSINESS MODEL

Product Supply & Demand Consumer

KNOWLEDGE “PULL” EDUCATION MODEL

Product

Stakeholder Input

Emerging Technologies

Learner-Guided

Preferences

E-LEARNING AND PEDAGOGY

• Adaptivity: – Modification of materials under pre-defined rules– Passive ‘reactor’ to learning objectives

E-LEARNING AND PEDAGOGY

• Adaptability:– Personalized learning experience while meeting

established learning outcomes– Active ‘leader’ in self-determined process

PULL EDUCATION…..

• Facilitates creativity• Promotes individuality• Encourages guided mentorship• Supports portability of learning• Opens the door to serendipity

BUT IT IS HINDERED BY….

• Course management tools• Reluctance to shift assessment methods• Failure to accommodate on-demand learning• Need for continual data analysis• Conflicts between open source & intellectual

property

SERVING TWO MASTERS

• Response to External Evaluation• Educator Control vs. Learner-Driven

Preferences

STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE LEARNER RETENTION

• Peer-guided Problem Solving

• Communication Skill-building

• Collaborative CompetitionSocial

LearningAppreciativ

e Inquiry

Cross- Functional

Team Building

Supports Diverse

Learning Styles

CREATING COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE

USING CLOUD-BASED DISTRIBUTED LEARNING• On-demand

problem solving • Encourage broad

use of resources– Integration of

technology & text

USE PORTABLE LEARNING OBJECTS

• Case Study• Discussion Board• Reflective Journal• Blog• Wiki• Tangible Products

WHO IS IN CHARGE OF LEARNING?

Learner

Educator

Business & Industry

Techies

External Evaluators

In Summary….

HERE’S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER:1. Knowledge builds in a cumulative manner

HERE’S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER:2. Education is a commodity –the delivery format

will vary

HERE’S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER:3. Listen first; then act

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

HERE’S WHAT WE WANT YOU TO REMEMBER:3. Listen first; then act.the questions

“Some time ago we started taking our walls too seriously – not just the walls of our classrooms, but also the metaphorical walls that we have constructed around our ‘subjects,’ ‘disciplines,’ and ‘courses.’

“Why Do I Have to Learn This? I’m Never Going to Use It!”