Stories from Students in Their First Semester of Distance Learning - Mark Brown, Helen Hughes, Mike Keppell, Natasha Hard & Liz Smith, IRRODL

Online and distance learning is becoming increasingly common. Some would say it has quickly become the preferred or 'new normal' mode of study throughout the world. However, surprisingly little is known about what actually happens to first year distance students once they have enrolled in tertiary institutions; what motivates them and how they actually experience the transition to formal study by distance. This gap in the literature presents a challenge for distance education providers who, worldwide, are coming under increasing scrutiny in light of poor retention, progression, and completion rates. Against this backdrop, the purpose of the current study was to gather insights and seek a deeper understanding from first-time distance learners about the nature of their experiences. http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1647/3448