Abstract
Attrition and retention is a significant issue for the higher education sector world-wide. This presentation outlines a unique tool used at a regional Australian university to engage students through online teamwork assessment as a means of addressing attrition. The pedagogy of the assessment design incorporates an authentic task, individualized grading and negotiated team selection, all situated in a online team environment. Students are provided online team management skills as part of the assessment so the management of the team becomes an output of the task itself. This presentation analyses the approach over a three year period in three advanced communications units (Advanced Public Relations, Organisational Communication, and Public Relations and the Media) at CQ University, Queensland, Australia. The approach has increased student engagement, retention and satisfaction, and encourages learning. The approach has received academic acknowledgement as best practice; been adopted by other disciplines; and is supported by industry.
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Assessment and Evaluation, Technologies in Learning
KEYWORDS
"Attrition", " Retention", " Distance Education"
