In the following part of the paper, I discuss the results of the systematic literature review of the studies that reported online student support strategies and interventions. The summary of the identified relevant studies is presented in Table 1. The Table contains the details of selected studies, including author (s), publication date, considered strategy, and its effectiveness.
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References
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Strategy
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Reported effectiveness
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1
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Walsh et al. (2020)
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Leveraging learning analytics to provide highly responsive student support
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The reported approach uses personalised data-driven approach that proved to increase student retention, satisfaction, and facilitated a smooth transition to the HE and academic success
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2
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Kelly et al. (2020)
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A holistic and coordinated approach with three initiatives: self-access resources and videos, videoconference appointments and peer-to-peer virtual guides to online learning
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The authors emphasised flexibility and personalisation of developed online individual support options and avenues for connecting with peers, advisers and librarians for technical and academic support
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3
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Dollinger et al. (2020)
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Online service Studiosity with an online live chat and a writing submission functions
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The vast majority of students reported that the service provided by the third provider assisted their learning, contributed to the higher grades, increased students’ confidence and increased likelihood of retention. A significant proportion of students interacted with the service outside the traditional study hours
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4
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Horvath et al. (2019)
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A comprehensive online orientation program. The modules Plan, Prepare, and Connect consisted of a suite of online resources, academic video presentations, step-by-step guides, quizzes and interactive, live sessions. Individual examples are interactive “Meet the experts” Zoom session, session on how to navigate Discover La Trobe (a key module to support student transition), and “Getting Prepared for Study” quiz
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Multiple aspects of the orientation program proved to assist with focusing students’ attention on organisation and time management skills prior to commencing their studies. Peer mentoring was incorporated into the orientation program to assist students in setting expectations and informing themselves about the demands and realities of online learning. It also assisted in developing important for online learning skills, such as how to plan and prepare for their studies and provided time management advice and techniques
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5
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Netanda et al. (2019)
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Targeted student support for identification of students’ needs
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The study showed that the provision of targeted support reduces attrition, escalated retention and success rate. Students classified financial support and academic support as critical for their success. Respondents over 35 years showed a greater need for technical support
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6
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Hsiao and Huang (2019)
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Wiki-site for the development of students’ personal knowledge management (PKM) skills
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Students perceived the helpfulness of using the wiki site to support PKM in online courses, but they less agreed with the helpfulness of using the group method to share tacit knowledge or “socialization” strategy
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7
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Marineo and Shi (2019)
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An online information literacy module offered within the learning management system
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Students who participated in the online information literacy module had better student outcomes than those that did not participate in the module
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8
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McDougall (2019)
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Preparation skills for university online course
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Online resources, e.g., video recorded lectures, “talking heads” not only helped students learn but also personalised their experience. A supportive online environment was achieved by reducing anonymity of support, and by addressing students’ personal needs in parallel with academic ones
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9
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Uribe and Vaughan (2017)
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Feedback system in the form of multi-draft formative assessments. Diversification of feedback strategies
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The authors reported the impact of clear expectations and feedback on student performance. The frontloaded feedback approach (lesson on how to understand feedback before the feedback itself) helped students to read and understand the feedback better
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10
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Kumar and Johnson (2017)
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Structured peer feedback strategy within online groups. Mentors provided scaffolds in the form of job-aids, step-by-step activities, and templates, discussed the research process and quality dissertations
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Feedback offered in a form of structured group mentoring helped to reduce challenges of non-verbal communication in the online environment and provided mentees with academic, personal and other forms of support
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11
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Kumar and Coe (2017)
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Peer support groups for doctoral students with the aim to connect students with common research/professional interests during the dissertation writing phase
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All study participants reported that support initiative has been imperative for their persistence and completion of the doctoral degree. Nominated mentors provided structure for the students in the form of deadlines, clear timelines for submission and tutor response, regular individual and group meetings, timely and meaningful feedback. The mentors also facilitated the management of peer feedback within and across different groups
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12
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Sisselman-Borgia and Torino (2017)
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Authentic learning experiences
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Authentic tasks and designed activities smooth the transition from educational to the professional field
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13
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Walters-Archie (2018)
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Four phases of a holistic orientation programme: (1) introduction and navigation; (2) introduction to the programme structure and requirements; (3) introduction with the focus on the active engagement of students into discussion,
quizzes, etc.; and (4) interaction with course facilitators within individual courses
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The majority of students (94%) found the first three phases of the online orientation beneficial
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14
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Glazier (2016)
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Rapport-building teaching strategies
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High-rapport relationship with the instructor suggested to influence student success and retention
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15
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Kear et al. (2016)
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Online tester experience
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The strategy allowed students to evaluate skills, readiness for studying online and clarify expectations before the enrolment
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16
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Brown and Wilson (2016)
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Two strategies (Caring Groups up to five students, and Caring Connections online sites) that promote culture of caring for self and for others
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Two unique strategies reported to be effective means to foster social presence and engagement and contributed to the development of a dynamic online community. The Caring Connections site provided safe space for sharing motivational messages, self-care tips, music, and photographs, etc. between the faculty and students
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17
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Kuo and Belland (2016)
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Pre-class training on the Internet-based technology
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Offered strategy facilitated students’ online interaction and overall learning experience and progress
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18
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Nichols (2010)
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Readiness for distance study survey, orientation course, general messages of support, and personal contact
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The results of the study showed that support interventions positively influence student retention, particularly with first-time online learners and level 5 students. The study showed that students are sensitive to the lack of support but tend to not appreciate it when support is in place
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19
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Whitelock et al. (2015)
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Catch up and review weeks embedded into the course schedule
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Strategies for recognition and management of the additional workload proved to increase retention for students with multiple responsibilities
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20
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Gibau (2015)
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Intentional peer mentoring
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Intentional connection of students with mentors proved to support students in their transition to the university
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21
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Gaytan (2015)
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Comprehensive feedback and instruction
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A more comprehensive feedback and instruction on how to engage in corrective behaviours was found to improve retention
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22
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Robb and Sutton (2014)
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Motivational emails
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Motivational emails significantly enhanced final course grades, course interest survey scores, facilitated students’ learning and decreased discomfort
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23
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McLoughlin and Alam (2014)
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Students were taught how to effectively use social media and Web 2.0. tools, including blogs, podcasts, Twitter and wiki
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Students reported benefits of collaboration, sharing and peer networking as major advantages of the use of social media. Twitter was most popular tool to create a culture of engagement and peer interaction
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24
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Britto and Rush (2013)
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Comprehensive student support system
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An introduction of the number of support services showed an impact in terms of comfort level with taking online courses, increased technical support, improved communication between students and advisers, increased access for fully online students to academic advisers
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25
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Nicholas et al. (2012)
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Evaluation of pre- and post-interventions of social support
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Evaluation of the offered social support showed an increase in quality of online students’ relationships with other people, decrease in the feeling of isolation, and enhanced knowledge gain
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26
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Smailes and Gannon-Leary (2011
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Educational scaffolding
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A provision of scaffolding positively influenced students’ motivation
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27
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Purnell et al. (2010)
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Automatic feedback that incorporates rankings with suggested strategies that would assist the student in commencing their university
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The support intervention allowed students to develop more realistic expectations about managing studies, maintaining motivation. This strategy is targeted at risk students at risk and proved to minimise time between identification of vulnerable students and a proactive outreach of those students
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28
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Boyle et al. (2010)
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Peer-mentoring support
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Students reported an increased feeling of belonging, motivation, improved study skills, communication with the tutor, as well as were able to discuss workload and personal problems
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Following the ISSPM framework, the identified support strategies, recommendations and interventions are allocated across the five phases of the educational life cycle to indicate the areas where they can be embedded into the online learning curriculum.
Student Intake Phase
Advising prior to enrolment
Past research advocates the provision of advising services on various aspects of learning prior to the enrolment (Cain & Lockee, 2002; Clay et al., 2008). It was found that the lack of comprehensive information about the chosen online programme was a main cause of misconceptions about requirements and a difficulty of the course (Clay et al., 2008). The review of the considered studies also supported the importance of the pre-enrolment advising. Gaytan (2015) believes that academic advisors must articulate study agreements regarding the credit transfer more clearly and provide advising strategies to ensure that students receive credit for previous coursework. Another example is a mandatory pre-enrolment initiative is an online readiness survey (Nichols, 2010). The author proposed that such a survey provide students with essential information needed for the decision-making process and decrease the mismatch in students’ expectations.
Orientation
Orientation programmes are proven to support student transition to the higher education (HE) and ensure the “scaffolded entry” (Stone, 2019, p. 5) to the online learning environment (Horvath et al., 2019; Nichols, 2010; Walters-Archie, 2018). This support strategy implies a “greater emphasis at the front end” (Stone, 2019, p. 5) and an establishment of an early connection with students (Gaytan, 2015). Through the orientation programme, students can also access “online tester experiences” (Kear et al., 2016, p. 141) that allow them to evaluate their online learning skills and readiness to study in the online learning environment. As emphasised in the E-excellence framework, “students should be informed prior to registration about the skills they will need to develop, and the study skills support available to them” (Kear et al., 2016, p. 141).
Orientation programmes also prepare students for their learning online after the enrolment. One example is a holistic pre-course orientation programme (see Walters-Archie, 2018) that consisted of four phases: an introduction to the online learning environment with the focus on navigation skills, an introduction to the structure and requirements of the programme, an introduction to the learning environment with the focus on practical activities (e.g. group discussions, quizzes), and an introduction to course facilitators. Walters-Archie (2018) reported that 94% of students found the orientation programme beneficial. Another example is orientation programme designed by Horvath et al. (2019) that include three modules, namely plan, prepare, and connect. Each module provides students with learning resources, video presentations, study guides, “Meet the experts” interactive Zoom seminars and “Getting Prepared for Study” quizzes that aim to clarify student expectations, present available support services and enhance students’ engagement.
Intervention phase
Identification of students at- risk and early interventions
Netanda et al. (2019) found that novice online learners are also at a greater risk to face challenges when adjusting to the online learning environment than more experienced learners (p. 405). According to Purnell et al. (2010) “early intervention with weaker achieving student” enhance student retention (p. 78).
Identification of students at risk has been also emphasized in the past research (Gibbs et al., 2006; McKavanagh & Purnell, 2007). McKavanagh and Purnell (2007) pointed at distinctive features of those students such as lack of motivation, unrealistic time management expectations, and hesitation to reach for help (p. 79). In the United Kingdom Open University (UK OU) vulnerable or at-risk students have been identified based on the analysis institutional data (e.g. students’ sex, age, educational and professional experience) (Gibbs et al., 2006). A proposed support strategy involved contacting those students who have been identified as needing advice or support in order to offer them an appropriate help (Gibbs et al., 2006). Similarly, Simpson (2008) argued that in the situation of scarce recourses the most effective way to improve student retention is to focus on those students who require support and are most likely benefit from it. What makes a difference for at risk student retentions is the time between the student identification and a time of support intervention (Gibbs et al., 2006; Purnell et al., 2010).
Proactive support and student outreach
Empirical studies confirm the importance of proactive rather than reactive support for online distance learners. Robb and Sutton (2014) showed that motivational emails initiated by the educational institution significantly enhanced final course grade and course interest survey scores. Students reported that such emails encouraged them to put more effort into learning and eliminated discomfort in communication with their tutors. Core strategies for proactive tutor support in the UK OU included consideration of the students’ workload and pacing students’ learning against milestones, monitoring students’ learning outcomes in order to identify those who are at risk of falling behind and dropping out and getting in touch with students prior to the submission of the first assignment in order to identify those who struggle academically (Whitelock et al., 2015). Proactively contact students using learning analytics have been also advocated by Walsh et al. (2020).
Past research also emphasised the importance of prolonged proactive interventions at the early stage of the learning cycle (Anderson, 2003). Similarly, Simpson (2003) emphasised a positive impact of the motivational calls and postcards on UK OU students’ retention, speculating that motivational emails can have the same effect. Another example of proactive institutional support is an introduction of the possibility to re-submit an unsatisfactory assessment to individual students (Pinchbeck & Heaney, 2017). It is notable that online tutors play an invaluable part in the provision of the proactive support. According to Rendon (1994), a validation of the tutor in the form of encouragement or an interest in the students’ activities positively impacted students’ learning. Simpson (2004) found that online distance learners who have been approached by a tutor via phone call with an encouraging conversation had higher retention at the end of the programme than the students who did not received this support.
Addressing external factors
Online students require support not only with their learning, but with balancing external factors and commitments (Sorensen & Donovan, 2017; Stone, 2019; Whitelock et al., 2015). Whitelock et al. (2015) reported that the importance of the workload for online learners who have pressures with work and family responsibilities should be recognised and taken into consideration. Emerged from the overlap or clash of assignments with particularly busy periods of online students’ life may result in the heavy overload and a student may fall behind. Thus, it should not be assumed that students are always on track of their study schedules. Instead, an introduction of catch up or review weeks can enhance students’ motivation and contribute to their learning progress (Whitelock et al., 2015).
Support phase
Mentoring and peer support
Mentoring and peer support proved to improve students’ adaptation to online learning environment (Kumar & Coe, 2017), contribute to the development of communication skills, and result in the better academic performance (Ashwin, 2003) and a higher persistence (Congos & Stout, 2003; McLean, 2004; Muldoon, 2008). Brindley (2014) argues that for educational institutions that have a constant enrolment in self passed learning an establishment of strong peer support networks in crucial for student success. Peer mentoring was the main mechanism in the designed by Horvath et al. (2019) orientation programme within which mentors helped new students to develop realistic expectations about their online learning, clarified the programme requirements, and overall served as learning models. Kumar and Coe (2017) too explained that through mentoring, new students can receive not only academic but also “socio-emotional support” (p. 15) since mentors play a mediating role for the knowledge and experience development. The participants of their study referred to the peer support as a paramount element for the development of community and persistence during the dissertation writing process.
Boyle et al. (2010) found that mentoring has a clear impact on student retention, offering a cost-efficient support strategy for the educational institution which is often underused in distance education. They proposed a “study dating” initiative designed to match students according to their characteristics, interests and other provided information (Boyle et al., 2010, p. 129). Such use of technology and social network sites is a new turn in establishing student support networks. Indeed, Internet can offer additional affordances for online peer support and mentoring (Dollinger et al., 2020; Hsiao & Huang, 2019; Marineo & Shi, 2019).
The relative simplicity of peer mentoring, a cost-effective strategy considered earlier, as a support strategy embedded into the learning curriculum is also neglected (Boyle et al., 2010). Although it involves an establishment of initial connections between students and assistance in developing a peer network from the side of educational institution, this strategy takes less effort from academic and administrative staff than any other intervention. As, Brindley (2014) pointed out, “as institutions grapple with how to continue to provide quality support to greater numbers of students, it is likely that peer support will become much more important” (p. 297).
Care
More attention has been paid to the indirect student support and caring. Robb and Sutton (2014) found that the student perception of a “caring instructor” (p. 6) or caring professor (Tippens, 2012) added a personal touch to the online class. Brown and Wilson (2016) proposed two initiatives, namely online caring groups and Caring connection website to facilitate students’ habits to care for themselves and care for others in an online learning environment. Prior research also recognised the value of indirect support. Jones (2010) argued that academic caring is an important factor for online students’ success. Similarly, Chen and Jang (2010) explain that students need to be surrounded by the atmosphere that allows a free expression of “feelings, thoughts, and concerns” (Chen & Jang, 2010, p. 750), whereas the traditional form of depersonalised support can create barriers for expressing students concerns. Overall, an emphasis on care can facilitate genuine student connection with the educational institution and foster the development of the community of learners.
A provision of structure
Kumar and Johnson (2017) found that, from mentors’ perspective, the structure and scaffolding in online learning environment are the necessary strategies for students’ progress and elimination of the feeling of isolation. They found that organised group meetings and a provision of the peer feedback in a structured way assist students in being on top of their learning (p. 68). Smailes and Gannon-Leary (2011) also identified that a provision of scaffolding positively influenced students’ motivation. Educational scaffolding items mentioned by the students in their study are the well-organized structure of the courses, weekly email prompts and active learning tasks (Smailes & Gannon-Leary, 2011).
Fostering a strong sense of community
A community of learners is a “powerful motivator and a powerful mechanism” for supporting online students and their learning experience (Collins et al., 1987, in Boling et al., 2012, p. 121). Hew (2015) argued that online learning experience can be enhanced by the reinforcement of the “social nature of learning” through the community where learners can socialise and support each other’s learning (p. 2).
Kumar and Coe (2017) supported a cohort model of learning that allows students to form meaningful interpersonal connections and be better supported in their learning challenges. In the past, “fostering sense of belonging” (p. 59) has been emphasised by Floyd and Casey-Powell (2004). Boyle et al. (2010) argued that feeling of belonging can be increased with the implementation of the peer support networks. Yet, individual institutions are recommended to identify communicative activities that work best for encouraging a greater sense of community among their students.
Interactions
Past research showed that well designed interactions improve students’ satisfaction, retention (Rienties & Toetenel, 2016) and learning outcomes (Kuo & Belland, 2016; Richardson et al., 2017). Boling et al. (2012) argue that online students’ connection with their tutors remains the most significant success factor. Among strategies to facilitate learner – content interactions Kuo and Belland (2016) suggested the use of technology enhanced tools (e.g., audio and video materials, multimedia, software that facilitates students’ learning) and a structured and easy to access online learning content. Interactions with the tutor can be enhanced by the provision of the encouragement and personalized guidance whereas the effectiveness of student communication can be facilitated through the guidance for interactions and collaborative work, with explanation of requirements, expectations, and online etiquette (Kuo & Belland, 2016).
Development of meaningful relationships
In online student support literature, there is a noticeable emphasis on the development of meaningful relationships. Scholars found that a teacher engagement and connection with online students has a positive effect on retention numbers (Glazier, 2016; Stone & O’Shea, 2019). Glazier (2016) identified that high-rapport relationship with the instructor is a key factor in student success and retention. To facilitate meaningful relationships, Glazier (2016) suggested implementing rapport-building teaching strategies, such as video updates, personal e-mails, and personalized electronic comments on assignments into online course.
Past research also indicate that the absence of the personal contact may result in the development of the feeling of loneliness (Sorensen & Donovan, 2017) and create communicative barriers especially for the less proactive learners (Brown et al., 2020; Paechter et al., 2010). To support the development of meaningful relationships, the teacher is expected to take onboard additional responsibilities (Russo-Gleicher, 2013).
Support with the development of necessary skills
Support with the development of skills necessary for online study may enhance students’ learning experience. Kuo and Belland (2016) found that pre-class training on the Internet-based technology facilitated students’ online interaction and overall learning experience and progress. In the study conducted by McLoughlin and Alam (2014), students were assisted in developing skills to work with social media and reported benefits of collaboration and peer networking of such support. Hsiao and Huang (2019) too suggested the use of wiki site as a strategy to support the development of the personal knowledge skills. Students found this support useful for a better personal knowledge management but not so for the purposes of socialisation. The concrete strategies for the development of student skills that the authors proposed are a provision of training, guidance, and examples of peer feedback and a peer reviewing process that enhances the development of the personal knowledge skills. In other works, despite the potential for enhancing students’ online learning experience the use of the Web.2.0. tools require guidance in how they are used by students and an ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of their use.
Among interventions that support the development of online study skills reported in the past are time management and study management training for students with multiple priorities. Grant et al. (2011) designed an online study skills workshop aimed to develop students’ self-directedness and online learning skills. McLoughlin and Alam (2014) advocated scaffolded teaching as a way to increase collaborative learning interactions and to develop social media skills. In their study, they used Twitter as a tool for group interactions and found that twitter facilitated the development of a unique culture of peer communication and engagement.
Feedback
For a diverse online student population, there is a need to re-think a meaningless and depersonalised provision of feedback. As Whitelock (2010) emphasised, timely and meaningful feedback influence online student progress as it is perceived as an “advice for action” (p. 323). Gaytan (2015) found that comprehensive feedback positively influences online students’ academic performance, resulting in an increase of student knowledge and decrease of the feeling of frustration. Uribe and Vaughan (2017) proposed a feedback cycle, suggesting two phases of potential frustration and difficulties: an encountering of the formative assessment feedback and a situation when a student does not seek a feedback clarification. The authors found that in these phases students may experience misunderstanding and confusion. Thus, as Whitelock et al. (2015) argued, affective and cognitive domains of the tutor feedback should be balanced in different ways for different learners, providing them with an adequate combination of “socio-emotive and cognitive support” (p. 171).
Personal advising and counselling
Although in the reviewed studies personal advising and counselling has not been differentiated as distinctive strategies, they were advocated as a part of the wholistic approach to supporting online students (Kelly et al., 2020; Zuhairi et al., 2019; Britto & Rush, 2013).
Research conducted in the past emphasises that the availability of advising services has direct impact on online students’ satisfaction and course retention (Cain & Lockee, 2002). Although such support is easily accessible for campus-based students, there is need for its provision for distance learners using multiple technological means, such as phone calls, emails, online conference tools. Furthermore, sufficient information about the personal support and counselling should be visible and available through the educational institution.
Transition phase
In the selected for analysis studies, there was no reference on concrete strategies or interventions at student transition points, apart from suggestions offered by Gibbs et al.(2006) and Gibau, (2015). Yet, past research emphasises that those timely interventions at transition points, between different parts of the study and during the induction period, make a positive difference in students learning progress (Baxter, 2012). Following types of transitions have been identified in the past: transition to higher education, transition between different stages of learning, and transition to the labour market.
Transition to the higher education
Although the literature on the strategies for supporting students at transition points is scarce, past research focused on the transition to higher education, and especially the literature on socialisation, suggests that novice students benefit from guided transition (Gibau, 2015; Ward & Commander, 2011). Gibau (2015) explains that student transition often involves both social and physical adjustment (p. 6), which is in line with the models on students’ retention and progress (Tinto, 1975; Rovai, 2003). Pedagogical models presume that if a student cannot make a social and academic adaptation, then the result may be dropping out from the course of study.
To prepare students for the initial transition to the HE, such an early outreach and “intentional peer mentoring”- also discussed in other phases- have been suggested (Gibau, 2015, p. 10) as strategies to support new students in their adjustment and transition to the higher education. Such activities contribute to the development of the kinship and can be arranged through matching different cohorts of students (Gibau, 2015).
Transitions between different stages of learning
The UK OU advocates focused support interventions in the periods of transition from one course to another to support students’ decision-making process (Gibbs et al., 2006). For some students, support in transition is a motivating factor, particularly if interventions from both tutors and support staff can address the lack of confidence- a common feeling reported by students in a new situation or environment. Baxter (2012) explained that if students are not supported at these ambiguous stages, they may experience exclusion and fail to progress.
Transition to the labour market
Another form of transition is the transitions from the university to the labour market (Dahlgren et al., 2006; Merrill, 2020). In the study conducted by Sisselman-Borgia and Torino (2017), students reported that “it was difficult to make a transition into a new field of work without ever having an experience in the new field” (p.). Learning experiences that aim to provide students with authentic experience in the field and evaluate their fitness (but also being flexible enough to fit into their current schedules) are among previously employed support strategies (see Sisselman-Borgia & Torino, 2017).
Measurement phase
Use of data analytics
Learning analytics offered the potential to identify at-risk students based on predictor variables (Simpson, 2004). Moreover, institutional data allows matching the most appropriate strategies with students who may benefit from such support (Gibbs et al., 2006; Walsh et al., 2020). In the past, there were attempts to measure the effectiveness of student support strategies and interventions. For instance, Simpson (2004) proposed a “maximum possible increase in retention” indicator to measure the effectiveness of support strategies (p. 82). Using student data to conduct predictive models, educational institutions can develop targeted interventions and help learners make more informed decisions about available support services (Brindley, 2014).
Cost–benefit analysis
Although there was no data on the analysis of costs involved in the design of support interventions in the revised studies, prior research showed that employing the cost analysis can justify the concreate support strategy or intervention. In the UK OU, Gibbs et al. (2006) predicted a profit of $2,087,302 a year by implementing a new proactive support system for 35.000 online students that cost $1,085,000 per year (p. 371). Such evaluation allows implementing support strategy that is “backed by cost-effectiveness data based on evaluations of controlled experiments and driven by management information systems” (Gibbs et al., 2006, p. 259). Furthermore, the cost–benefit may assist educational institutions in designing personalised, yet cost-effective support interventions based on the analysis of institutional data to identify vulnerable and at-risk students. However, the analysis of the research on support strategies and interventions showed that there are no embedded mechanisms to evaluate student support interventions in terms of their economic costs and benefits.
Surveys and interviews
Surveys of satisfaction with support services are most often used to measure quality and identify any unmet needs (Brindley, 2014). Nicholas et al. (2012) conducted pre-and post-intervention interviews with two groups of students, those who received support and those who did not. Qualitative interviews with intervention group participants proved to be helpful in identifying the beneficial impact of support. Specifically, the researchers were able to collect data on students’ decreased isolation, gain in knowledge, and normalisation of experience (Nicholas et al., 2012).
Self-evaluation tools
Higher educational institutions can use a variety of tools to assess the support services they offer. One assessment tool reported in the past is the Online Student Services Self-Assessment Tool, which helps educators review links to the support services and evaluate which areas of support are not addressed (Floyd & Casey-Powell, 2004, p. 56). Among the considered studies, Boyle et al. (2010) also employed self-reports from online students to measure the effectiveness of the implemented peer support strategy. The data showed that mentored students had a higher persistence rate compare to the unsupported students. Analysis of such data helped to plan the further implementation of the peer-support strategy in the institution.