Significant effort toward closing the degree attainment gap has focused on creating defined pathways for students, as well as degree-planning and advising programs. For example, the iPASS (Integrated Planning and Advising for Student Success) initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is funding 26 pilot projects in critical functions that impact student success, such as course selection and connecting students to counseling and coaching resources.
The next (and perhaps even more impactful) frontier for colleges and universities working to improve degree attainment will be in curriculum and instruction. Using evidence-based principles of learning design to create more effective online learning experiences, combined with predictive analytics technology that continuously monitors and tracks students’ performance, can significantly improve student achievement. Designing better learning environments based on learning science benefits students who are less prepared for college work, and predictive analytics tools that use student learning data can better connect with student services.
Tags: adaptive learning • Blended Learning • degree attainment • Higher Education, • Learning Analytics • Learning Outcomes • Personalized Learning • student outcomes