Abstract
Attrition rates from online study are significantly higher than for on-campus study. Besides the difficulties associated with the study mode, most online students experience multiple associated challenges, which arise because of personal circumstances or past educational background. This chapter reports part of the analysis of interviews to examine how the students coped with online study and the multiple associated challenges. The outcome was an analytical framework with three coping mechanisms: sacrifice, support and negotiation of arrangements. The coping mechanisms operated in three domains: the self, family and work. The framework is presented as a coping mechanism by domain grid. Examples, from the interviews, are given for the cells within the grid.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Al Fadda, H. (2019). The relationship between self-regulations and online learning in an ESL blended learning context. English Language Teaching, 12(6), 87–93. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v12n6p87
Bawa, P. (2016). Retention in online courses: Exploring issues and solutions: A literature review. SAGE Open, 6(1). 2158244015621777.
Boyd, D. (2004). The characteristics of successful online students. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 18(2), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1002/nha3.10184
Carr, S. (2000). As distance education comes of age, the challenge is keeping the students. Chronicle of Higher Education, 46(23), 39–42.
HESP. (2017). Improving retention, completion and success in Higher Education, Higher Education Standards Panel discussion paper. Australian Government.
Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. P. (2004). Relationship between the employment of coping mechanisms and a sense of belonging for part-time students. Educational Psychology, 24(3), 345–357. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144341042000211689
Kember, D. (1995). Open learning courses for adults: A model of student progress. Educational Technology Publications.
Kember, D. (1999). Integrating part-time study with family, work and social obligations. Studies in Higher Education, 24(1), 109–124. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079912331380178
Kember, D., Chan, K. Y., Chan, S. W., Chan, S. Y., Chan, T. W., Chang, Y. M., Cheung, K. W., Lau, K. H., Lee, L. S., Lee, W. C., Li, W. S. W, Tam, K. C., Tang, O. Y. A., Tse, L. C., & Tse, W. J. (2005). How students cope with part-time study: An analysis of coping mechanisms through an on-line forum. Active Learning in Higher Education, 6(3), 230–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469787405057662
Kember, D., Leung, D., & Prosser, M. (2019). Has the open door become a revolving door? The impact on attrition of moving from elite to mass higher education. Studies in Higher Education, 46(2), 258–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1629411
Kintu, M. J., Zhu, C., & Kagambe, E. (2017). Blended learning effectiveness: The relationship between student characteristics, design features and outcomes. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 14(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-017-0043-4
Levy, Y. (2007). Comparing dropouts and persistence in e-learning courses. Computers and Education, 48(2), 185–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2004.12.004
Lewis, R., & Spencer, D. (1986). What is open learning? Council for Educational Technology.
Norton, A., Cherastidtham, I., & Mackey, W. (2018). Mapping Australian higher education 2018. https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/907-Mapping-Australian-higher-education-2018.pdf
Phillips, J. A., Schumacher, C., & Arif, S. (2016). Time spent, workload, and student and faculty perceptions in a blended learning environment. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 80(6), 102. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe806102
Tello, S. F. (2007). An analysis of student persistence in online education. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 3(3), 47–62. https://doi.org/10.4018/jicte.2007070105
Thorpe, M., & Grugeon, D. (1987). Moving into open learning. In M. Thorpe & D. Grugeon (Eds.), Open learning for adults. Longmans.
Whitelock, D., Thorpe, M., & Galley, R. (2015). Student workload: A case study of its significance, evaluation and management at the Open University. Distance Education, 36(2), 161–176. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2015.1055059
Yum, J. C. K., Kember, D., & Siaw, I. (2005). Coping mechanisms of part-time students. International Journal of Lifelong Education, 24(4), 303–317. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370500169194
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kember, D., Trimble, A. (2023). Coping Mechanisms Adopted by the Diverse Student Body. In: Kember, D., Ellis, R.A., Fan, S., Trimble, A. (eds) Adapting to Online and Blended Learning in Higher Education. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0898-1_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-0898-1_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-99-0897-4
Online ISBN: 978-981-99-0898-1
eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)