Enabling learning, addressing retention

Supporting students via online tutorials with Smarthinking

Abstract

Enabling student learning through the provision of enhanced and positive distance learning as opposed to delivery often proves problematic for online learning. In 2007 Open Universities Australia (OUA) began an innovative long-term trial of an online writing tutorial intervention to deal with varied levels of academic writing skill competence amongst its students. The trial set out to provide a supplementary writing support tuition service that would enable the development of learner knowledge and skills that then might impact on learner satisfaction. The trial also set out to ascertain any effect this intervention strategy would have on retention into subsequent units, unit completion rates and student grades. A trial of the Smarthiking.com online writing lab ran over three study periods in 2007 and is reported upon in this paper.