According to Tyler-Smith’s (2006), sources, attrition among online learners may be as high as 50%—generally 10-20% higher than for traditional students. At UK Open University, the rate of students who drop out before even turning in a paper is at least 35% (p. 77). Tyler-Smith suggests some reasons for attrition that are peculiar to mature adults. However, Gilbert’s dissertation (2000, ERIC ED# 459885), which found no significant difference in attrition based on maturity, casts some doubt on that rationale.
A more interesting theory by Tyler-Smith is that early attrition may be caused by cognitive overload resulting from the need to learn an unfamiliar medium in addition to new subject matter.
Another cause of dropouts in all types of higher education—a failure to connect with other people or acquire a sense of belonging—may be intensified in online education. I hope to address this issue in more detail in future posts.
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