Elke M. Leeds

The impact of student retention strategies: an empirical study

A major concern for institutions and instructors is the high dropout rate of students in online courses. This study investigated the impact of student retention strategies on retention rates in an online information systems course. A treatment group exposed to retention strategies related to student engagement, learning communities, student services and learner centred environments was compared with a control group. Results suggested that retention strategies may not impact retention rates. This is important as faculty are routinely encouraged to implement similar strategies in online course design and delivery.

Digital Video Presentation and Student Performance: A Task Technology Fit Perspective

This paper reports the results of a confirmatory study of a Task Technology Fit TTF model. Three dimensions of fit:Task Match, Ease of Use, and Ease of Learning, are applied in the context of digital video tools use for oral presentation in a classroom environment. Students completed a digital video presentation that acted as a substitute for an in-class oral presentation. An existing survey instrument was adapted, and administered to the students to examine the impact on presentation skill and fit to task. Results confirm the adaptation of the TTF model and show significant relationships between variables. The model can be used in other task/technology combinations. Additional findings suggest that when there is a significant fit between digital video tools technology and improvement of oral presentation skills task, student performance also improves. Digital video can be a useful alternative to in-class presentation when the goal is to improve presentation skill.

Project Management Issues in IT Offshore Outsourcing

Global partnerships are forming to take advantage of the cost savings associated with offshoring as well as other strategic benefits. Not all information technology offshoring projects, however, are successful. Cost overruns, increased complexity and defective code cause organizations to rethink their offshoring strategy and their methods for managing these projects. In this paper, project management issues associated with offshore information technology outsourcing projects are identified and specific recommendations for addressing these issues are presented.

Using Digital Video Technology to Reduce Communication Apprehension in Business Education

Several studies have shown that communication apprehension (CA) plays a significant role in reducing the effectiveness of oral communication in business settings. To compound this problem, environmental needs for large classes deny students the opportunity to present in the classroom and prevent universities from adequately addressing CA. In this study, digital video was used as a multimedia replacement for in-class oral presentations. A digital video treatment was designed and tested on a sample of second year management information systems (MIS) students at a large southeastern state university to determine its impact on CA. McCroskeys [McCroskey, J. C. 1982. An Introduction to Rhetorical Communication , 4th ed. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ] Personal Report of Communication Apprehension (PRCA-24) was used to measure CA in a pretreatment/posttreatment design. Results showed that the treatment is associated with a reduction in CA. A feedback survey indicated that participants in the treatment group spent more time on average practicing oral communication skills and most felt the treatment prepared them to present again. Digital video can benefit students through reduced CA, increased practice time, and the ability to review their presentation delivery. In a large class environment digital video may be used as an alternative to in-class presentation in order to benefit students who would otherwise not have the opportunity to present.

Integrating an Executive Panel on Communication info an Engineering Curriculum

Communication skills are key to the workforce success of engineering graduates. The Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) Workforce Communication Program at Georgia Tech has successfully incorporated executive panel interaction into its capstone design course to align student skills with executive expectations. The objectives of the panel are to raise student awareness about the importance of communication to workforce success and to gain knowledge about communication skills directly from executives. Executives interact directly with students about workforce communication, career advancement, and the communication skills they consider most critical. The process of assembling and holding a panel is described for potential implementation in other engineering programs.