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Facebook ‘cuts student drop-outs’

October 26, 2009 by Sarah Newton  
Filed under Education

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How can Facebook improve student retention?

With the current wave of students demanding more and the UK reportedly having one of the worse drop-out rates, could Facebook be the answer?

Gloucestershire College has recently stood out from the crowd and said that social networking has improved their retention rates.

Gloucestershire College says social networking is used to keep students informed and in touch with staff.
“There has been a significant improvement in retention,” says media curriculum manager, Perry Perrott.
Using such teenager-friendly communication tools has a “positive effect on motivation”, says the government’s technology agency, Becta.
“We’re embracing it rather than fighting it,” says Mr Perrott. He says Facebook pages for individual courses help the students to bond with each other, work together as a team and maintain their connection with staff.
At City of Sunderland College, a pilot scheme using Facebook has found it useful as a way of reminding students about deadlines.
Lynne Hardy, a lecturer in biology and physiology, says that students can often forget when work needs to be completed and this is a way of “giving them a gentle prod”.
“Students are already familiar with it, they’re very comfortable with using it,” she says.
“Technology is no longer an optional extra – and modern trends such as social networking should not be ignored,” says Jane Williams of Becta, the government’s educational technology agency.
“Virtual learning environments, simulations such as Second Life and social networking sites can have a positive effect on motivation and attainment across the further education sector,” says Ms Williams, executive director for further education, regeneration and delivery.
“With social networking technologies, you can communicate to many students easily and quickly at next to no cost, which is increasingly important in a world where budgets are under pressure.”

I could not agree more. This current generation want to feel connected, involved and important. Colleges and schools that can engage with them in a meaningful and relevant manner are always going to win the game.

It’s not hard; come on the rest of you!

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Tags: Facebook, retention rates, School, student, Technology

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