When health science education is offered online, it makes an otherwise difficult program easy to access for all students, regardless of their circumstances. In many ways, the availability of online education has helped improve student retention across the board, as more flexible class requirements keep students enrolled. That being said, it’s not a perfect solution. Health science education – whether online or in-person – still presents the same challenges in terms of course content, which is largely unchanged from one classroom setting to another. Challenging courses – like Human Anatomy – can lead students to question whether or not they want to continue to pursue this career, even with the advantages that online learning presents.
So, how can online educators improve student retention rates in some of the field’s most difficult courses – especially when they aren’t there physically to help encourage their students to stick it out?
We’ll give you some pointers.
Why Student Retention in Health Sciences is Important
All institutions of higher education must aim for student retention. But, this is not only beneficial for the college, university, or program. This is beneficial for both students and educators, too. Why? When students continue to enroll in a program year-after-year (or, even one semester to the next), this ensures that the program can’t keep running. Usually, this means they can continue to provide resources to both students and educators, which leads to a positive cycle of continuous success.
Student retention is even more important in Health Sciences because of its impact on society at large. The more students that stay enrolled in a Health Science program, the more likely they are to pursue a career in health sciences. And, with a shortage of medical and health science professionals across the board, everyone benefits the more students make it to their graduation and transition into their career.
The Challenge of Student Retention in Health Sciences
The bad news: student attrition is an inevitable part of higher education. The good news is that the combination of universities, educators, and the creation of courses that help students succeed (as well as the application of these courses to online settings) has helped improve student retention year-after-year.
But, when it’s your own students leaving the course, it can start to feel like it’s a reflection on your teaching, even when you have the best online course curriculums, teaching tactics, and university support at your disposal.
In the online classroom, challenges such as lack of physical interaction and the inability to cater effectively diverse learning styles can lead to student disengagement. Other challenges include:
- Limited hands-on experience: Particularly in fields like health sciences, the lack of practical, hands-on learning can be a significant barrier to being successful in more difficult courses.
- Isolation and disconnection: Students may feel isolated from their teacher and other peers, leading to decreased motivation and engagement.
- Technical difficulties: Issues with technology or access to reliable internet can hinder the learning process, which is especially important when courses are held online.
- Time management: Without the structure of a physical classroom, students might struggle with managing their time efficiently.
Understanding and addressing these barriers is the foundation for improving retention rates altogether, but it’s even more vital when the coursework starts to get really challenging.
The Impact of Human Anatomy Courses on Student Retention
It’s not unusual that student retention rates rise when students feel that it’s too difficult to succeed. Though this may just be one of the factors contributing to student attrition, in health sciences, this can be more common. Human Anatomy stands as one of the most challenging courses in the health professions. To succeed in this course, it’s essential to memorize the names of various organs, tissues, and bodily processes.
As the course progresses, each unit will build upon the previous one, so if students are unable to stay at that pace, this can be difficult. Although online courses do make this easier in many ways, they can also make it harder for students who need to be in-person in order to overcome Human Anatomy. Ultimately, this course’s complexity can often be a significant factor in student disengagement and their choice to not re-enroll in the program.
With this in mind, health science educators who are able to mitigate retention in their Human Anatomy courses may find that those techniques carry over to maintaining student retention in other areas of online learning.
5 Ways to Help Students Succeed in Human Anatomy
In order to counter the complexities of Human Anatomy courses, educators need to employ innovative teaching methods alongside choosing the most appropriate curriculum. Interactive modules that simulate real-life scenarios, engaging multimedia content, and virtual dissection tools are just a few of the ways that educators can make this daunting subject more accessible and intriguing, even more so when the course is already held online.
Here are some other ideas:
1. Leverage A Variety of Technology Tools
Many online educators may wonder what the purpose is of incorporating additional technology tools when a course is already held online. Shouldn’t all those tools already be embedded? Well, yes. That being said, teachers can go the extra mile to find supplemental tools that can help with grasping such complex material, like that in a Human Anatomy course.
Ask yourself, “What are my students engaged with?” or “What interests them?” which may require you to create a survey at the start of the course, as observing your students is a lot harder in online settings. Whether it’s social media accounts, books, podcasts, live video calls, or interactive quizzes, there are so many different ways to cater to various learning preferences, sustaining student interest and involvement.
2. Fostering a Supportive Online Community
Building a community in an online course is key to student retention when the class material starts to get tough. Strategies such as facilitating peer-to-peer interaction, group discussions, and regular instructor feedback can create a sense of belonging and motivation. You could also pair students who recently completed the Human Anatomy course with students currently taking it, as a mentorship program. These programs generally lead to student retention.
3. Incorporate Real-World Case Studies and Applications
Integrating real-world case studies and practical applications in the curriculum can significantly enhance students’ understanding and interest in Human Anatomy and Physiology. By relating anatomical concepts to real-life medical scenarios and current health issues, students can better appreciate the relevance of what they are learning, which is vital when class can’t be held in a physical setting. This approach not only aids in the retention of information but also in sparking a deeper interest in the subject matter.
4. Effective Assessment and Feedback Mechanisms
Incorporating regular, low-stakes assessments and constructive feedback is fundamental in maintaining student engagement but also assessing their learning. These practices not only help in tracking progress but also in identifying learning gaps early on. Feedback should be timely and actionable, encouraging students to view assessments as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. This means that even if the online course you’re utilizing has their own assessments, it doesn’t hurt to incorporate your own if you feel that your students would benefit from it.
5. Check in With Students Regularly
To go off of the above, to increase student retention it’s also important in courses like Human Anatomy to regularly check-in with your students. And, even more so in online environments, getting to know your students and checking in with them helps to foster a supportive and responsive online learning environment. These check-ins can range from personalized emails, virtual office hours, to quick surveys asking for feedback on the course material.
Such interactions help in identifying student struggles early, allowing for timely interventions. Regular communication also makes students feel valued and heard, which is essential for maintaining their motivation and commitment to the course.
Choose a Human Anatomy Course That Prioritizes Student Retention
Enhancing student retention in online health science education, especially in challenging courses like Human Anatomy, requires a comprehensive and empathetic approach. But, you also shouldn’t have to go at it all on your own. Caduceus’ Human Anatomy and Physiology course is a unique course that was designed in partnership with Dr. Shannon Cox-Kelley, EdD.
Not only does the course utilize engaging multimedia resources like recorded lectures, interactive diagrams, and digital flashcards to help cater to a variety of learning styles, but the emphasis on these learning strategies has reduced student attrition in A&P from 38% to 13% at one institution. Get a free trial of Caduceus’ Human Anatomy & Physiology Course today.
