Improving student engagement retention and success in online learning

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, universities worldwide were already increasingly offering online, distance modes of study, including open access courses such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) alongside degree programs. Students from backgrounds and circumstances historically under-represented in higher education have been traditionally more highly represented in online studies, indicating the potential opportunity for further widening of participation in higher education. However, the recent imperative for online learning to replace face-to-face classes during the pandemic means that, at the time of writing this chapter in mid-2020, the majority of higher education students worldwide are studying in a remote, online mode. The higher attrition rates in online learning have been a cause of concern for some time, indicating that the diverse cohort of students attracted to online learning needs to be better understood and supported, both within teaching and learning practices and broader support mechanisms. With online learning now expanding even more rapidly, there is an urgent need to address this issue. This chapter focuses on the student experience of online learning, examining recent Australian and international research from both the student and institutional perspective. It makes recommendations for the sector on ways to improve online student engagement, retention and success.