Melissa’s December Insights
Online Education in the News
College Completion Rates are on the Rise
A new study from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center finds that overall completion rates are increasing, after several years of decreasing numbers.
- Who
- The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide data and research services that help educators understand current trends in student enrollment and performance.
- What
- How is “college completion” defined? Completion rate usually describes how many students graduated six years after enrolling in higher education for the first time. The latest report from the NSCRC shows that a little more than half (54.8%) of college students who started in 2010 graduated in 2016.
- When
- The latest report was released December 5, 2016.
- Where
- You can access information about the latest completion rates and a link to the full report at Inside Higher Ed.
- Why
- This study does not separate online and on-campus students, but identifies trends across institutions (two-year and four-year, nonprofit and for-profit).
- More Info
- Explore additional resources available on the National Student Clearinghouse website.
Conference Updates
OLC Accelerate
This is the 22nd year for this annual conference from the Online Learning Consortium, which is focused on online teaching and learning. The onsite and virtual attendance is in the thousands and made up of academic leaders, educators, instructional designers, and other learning professionals interested in technology and innovation. I was fortunate to attend OLC Accelerate this year and made the most of the learning and networking opportunities available. The tweets I selected from this event all provide a take-away idea or resource you can put to use wherever you are.
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Tanya Joosten
@tjoostenPodcast recommendations from #podpanel. Feel free to add to and/or share.
Melissa’s Insight
Podcasts are alive and well in the world of higher education. I was involved with an ongoing broadcast during 2016, and attended a related session at OLC. Here is a list of recommended podcasts shared during a related conference session, Check one (or two) out as a new source of professional development and inspiration. -
Laura Pasquini
@laurapasquiniConsider reaching out to a potential mentor for specific ways they can support ___ in your personal/professional life.
Melissa’s Insight
Mentorships can play a powerful role in the lives of students and educators alike, but they don’t just happen. Think about your goals and priorities, identify people in your network who have relevant experience, and take the initiative to contact them with ideas about how you might connect over specific questions and issues. -
Kelly Jane Keane
@kellyjanekeaneCheck out TechnologyTestKitchen.org for recipe book from #OLCAccelerate
Melissa’s Insight
This “exploratory Makerspace or professional development” allows attendees to try new technologies on-site and learn about strategies that put them to their best use. You can download a PDF with ideas and instructions for activities such as “reduced fat meetings and collaboration” and “PowerPoint karaoke.”
Don’t Miss Dates!
December 10
Human Rights Day
This day was designated as Human Rights Day in 1950 by the United Nations. The UN asks each of us to “step forward and defend the rights of a refugee or migrant, a person with disabilities, an LGBT person, a woman, a child, indigenous peoples, a minority group, or anyone else at risk of discrimination or violence.” How can you make a difference in your community? #Standup4HumanRights #HumanRightsDay
Academic Deadlines
Final Exams and Fall Grades: If your Fall classes haven’t already ended, there isn’t long to get everything completed and prepare for final exams. At this time of the year there are a lot of distractions (e.g., holiday events, travel plans), but stay focused through the end of the term and finish strong!
Spring Registration: January is closer than you think. Take some time now to review your degree plan and make sure you are registered for the spring classes you need. Take advantage of early access to your course syllabus, textbook list, etc. and get ready for the first day of classes.
