Visualizing the Enrollment Procedure

Author Information
Author(s): 
John Sener
Author(s): 
The Sloan Consortium
Institution(s) or Organization(s) Where EP Occurred: 
Boise State University
Effective Practice Abstract/Summary
Abstract/Summary of Effective Practice: 

By summarizing the enrollment procedure in a flowchart, Boise State University simplifies the registration process.

Description of the Effective Practice
Description of the Effective Practice: 
How this practice supports access: Enrolling in online courses often involves lots of separate steps; doing all of these steps properly in the correct order can be difficult for online course enrollees. It could be especially difficult for the beginners. Summarizing the enrollment procedure in a flowchart can help students visualize the process at a glance. Boise State University's Instructional & Performance Technology (IPT) Department's procedure flowchart specifies each step in the enrollment process. Steps in the flowchart that require the student to complete a form or access information are hotlinked to the corresponding form or information needed to complete that step.
Supporting Information for this Effective Practice
Evidence of Effectiveness: 

The enrollment procedure flowchart is one of a series of interventions done to improve retention rates in the IPT program. From Fall 1989-1996, the average IPT program retention rate was 56% by the third course (i.e., 44% of online students dropped out of the program by their third course). After implementing the interventions, the retention rate increased to 78% within three semesters and to 85% by the end of 1999-2000 academic year. This in turn resulted in a substantial increase in the number of credits that the IPT online program offered since it started implementing the interventions.

References, supporting documents: 

Chyung, Y., "Improve the Motivational Appeal of Online Instruction for Adult Learners: What's in it for Me?" URL: http://coen.boisestate.edu/ychyung/researchpaper.htm

Contact(s) for this Effective Practice
Effective Practice Contact: 
Jo Ann Fenner, Associate Program Developer, Instructional & Performance Technology Dept., Boise State University
Email this contact: 
bsuipt@boisestate.edu
Tags:
© 2012, The Sloan Consortium