It is interesting that this course is focused on retention of students online, as that is directly tied to the issue of enrolling students who, frankly, have no business in an online college course. I have had a number of students who are using a computer for the very first time, who have no knowledge of how to use a word processing program, save a document, or attach a document, much less how to use the Internet or the other resources available to them. I want to contact the person who enrolled them in my class and ask them what they were thinking.
But I know the answer to that...they have to enroll a certain number of students each month to meet a quota.
As an adjunct, I don't have the time to teach a student how to use a computer. I do my best in providing students with job aids and videos to help them along, but I'm not teaching Computers 101. I really wish that those on the enrollment side would more carefully consider whether a student is ready for online classes, or if the student even needs to go to college. There are plenty of options for additional training that don't involve the expense and the heartache that too often follows enrollment in a program for which one is not suited.
