1. Engaging the Open Distance Learners:
A Strategy to Increase Retention and
Improve Graduation Rates
Richard Ng, PhD
Open University Malaysia
, Nov 2011, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. Overview of Presentation
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
Overview of Presentation
1. Introduction
2. Research Objective
3. Interventions taken by Open University Malaysia
4. Research Methodology
5. Findings
6. Conclusion
7. Recommendations
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3. 1. Introduction: Attrition is widely researched since
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
1. Introduction:
Attrition is widely researched since
1970s - Spady & Tinto
Based on Durkheim’s Suicidal Theory
Cause of Attrition –> Lack of Academic
and Social integration
Study on attrition of ODL by Rovai,
Paloff and Pratt, and Reisman
Durkheim’s Suicidal Theory:
a. Egoistic
b. Altruistic
c. Anomic
d. Fatalistic
2. Technology, if managed well can engage learners
Key factor –> Feelings of Isolation
With technology -> Engage learners
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4. MyVLE Tools for Engaging the learners OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA
There are many ways to engage learners
Use of existing portal to create Online Community to engage learners
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5. OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
2. Research Objective:
The research will find the level of interaction as a results of OUM’s intervention
It will establish the correlation between level of interaction (LL, LT, LC & LS) and Engagement
High level of interaction -> Engagement -> Commitment to stay
LL, LT and LC interactions were proposed by Moore (1989)
LS interaction was proposed by Jiang (2008)
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6. 3. Interventions taken by Open University Malaysia
Infrastructure
Social Media
COL
ECRM
MyVLE
Pre-Tutorial
Workshop
Selected
OL Tutors
i-Lecture/
i-Radio
The interventions above by OUM has been implemented since 2005
Social media is the latest interventions being used by OUM
E-Counseling
Pre-Tutorial
Tutors’ Briefing
Digital
Library
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7. 4. Research Methodology:
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
4. Research Methodology:
Cross Sectional study using a 63-item survey
Administered on 1500 learners from different cohorts
located throughout Malaysia during tutorial
Measures the perceived level of interaction between
Learners and Learners (LL), Learners and Tutors (LT),
Learners and Content (LC) and Learners and Staff (LS),
the level of Engagement, Senses of Community (SCI),
Satisfaction (JDI), Intrinsic Motivation (SDT) and
Commitment to stay (TCM)
Use of cross sectional studies where respondents are from the same semester though different cohorts
To avoid questionnaire being administered to same respondents if carried out via Longitudinal studies
More effective when administered during tutorial -> ensure higher success rate
Correlation was established among these variables
T-Test was carried out to find if there is a statistical difference
in the level of learners’ Commitment to stay
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8. 5. Findings: 5.1 Sample Distribution: 5.2 Reliability of scale:
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
5. Findings:
5.1 Sample Distribution:
Cohort
Targeted Number
Actual Number
Response Rate
Year 1
300
372
124.0%
Year 2
221
73.7%
Year 3
214
71.3%
Year 4
165
55.0%
Final Year
144
48.0%
Total
N = 1,500
N = 1,116
74.4%
Response rate = 74%
300 learners have been targeted from each cohort year
Year 1 learners have exceeded the target due to administration of questionnaire randomly but this has no impact on the research
5.2 Reliability of scale:
-> 0.73
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9. 5.3 Mean Scores of the variables
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
5.3 Mean Scores of the variables
SCI
JDI
SDT
TCM
ENG LL LT LS LC N
1116
Mean Scores
3.87
3.57
3.70
3.88
3.90
3.35
3.51
3.50
Std. Deviation
.43
.42
.32
.50
.51
.49
0.83
.76
.67
According to Jiang (2008):
-> Mean score of 3.51 to 5 is considered high level of interaction
-> Mean score of 2.5 and below is considered low level of interaction
-> Mean score of 2.51 to 3.5 is considered interim level
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10. 5.4 Pearson Correlation coefficients of all the variables
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
5.4 Pearson Correlation coefficients of all the variables
Eng LL LT LS LC
Pearson Correlation 1
.675(**)
.238(**)
.326(**)
.394(**)
Sig. (2-tailed) .
.000
SCI
JDI
SDT
Eng LL LT LS LC
TCM
Pearson Correlation
.798(**)
.609(**)
.693(**)
.848(**)
.608(**)
.238(**)
.389(**)
.493(**)
Sig.
(2-tailed)
.000
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11. 5.5 Independent Samples T-Test - Commitment to stay and Engagement:
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
5.5 Independent Samples T-Test - Commitment to stay and
Engagement:
Levene's Test for Equality of Variances
t-test for Equality of Means F
Sig. t df
Sig. (2-tailed)
Mean Diff.
Std. Error Diff.
95% Confidence Interval of the Difference
Lower
Upper
Commitment
to stay
Equal variances assumed
30.95
.000
30.00
1114
.68
.023
.639
.728
Equal variances not assumed
28.83
835.98
.024
.637
.730
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12. 5.6 Multiple Regression Analysis:
OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
5.6 Multiple Regression Analysis:
Model R
R Square
Adjusted R Square
Std. Error of the Estimate 1
.848(a)
.719
.2667
Model
Sum of Squares df
Mean Square F
Sig. 1
Regression
202.86
.000(a)
Residual
79.20
1114
.071
Total
282.05
1115
Adjusted R square = indicating Engagement explains 72% of Commitment to stay
ANOVA and Coefficient tables indicate significant
Model
Unstandardized Coefficients
Standardized Coefficients t
Sig. 1
(Constant)
.41
.06
6.40
.000
Engagement
.87
.02
.85
53.42
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13. OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
6. Conclusions:
The interventions taken by OUM has impact on the level of
interactions between L-L (3.90), L-T (3.35), L-C (3.51) and
L-S (3.50)
The interaction level L-L, L-T, L-C and L-S has a strong
correlation with Engagement and Commitment to stay
There is a statistical significant difference in the level of
Commitment to stay between learners who have a high level
Engagement and those who have a low level of Engagement
Engagement explains 72% of the variance of Commitment
to stay
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14. OPEN UNIVERSITY
MALAYSIA
7. Recommendations:
A tracking system must be developed to track the level of
interactions of LL, LT, LC and LS more effectively
A comparative study between
reading subjects and technical
subjects
Effort must be taken by ODL Institutions to increase the level of interactions between LL, LT, LS and LC by capitalising on the
LMS and the use of Social Media
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15. Thank you Terima Kasih OPEN UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA Kan sam mi da Merci
Gracias
Shukria
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