Improving Your RTO’s Completion Rate with Quality Resources

Bar July 2023
happy woman completing online course

One of the biggest challenges online educators face is the high dropout rate of online learners, which ultimately leads to low completion rates. As an RTO, this issue is a recurring aspect of your business. However, while it may not be feasible to eliminate this problem entirely due to uncontrollable factors, there are effective strategies that can be employed to enhance completion rates. By incorporating interactive eLearning resources, your RTO can take significant steps towards improving completion rates and contributing to the success and efficiency of the Australian Vocational Education and Training System. These resources engage learners actively, promoting better knowledge retention and motivation, ultimately fostering an environment that encourages learners to successfully complete their courses.

Factors That Affect an RTO’s Completion Rate

There are a variety of internal and external factors that can affect an RTO’s completion rate.

Internal factors include the quality of your courses, how well they’re designed and delivered, and whether or not your students have the required skills and knowledge to complete them. Other internal factors include student engagement, support and motivation.

External factors, on the other hand, are things like work and family commitments, health issues or personal problems. These are all things that are out of your control but can still significantly impact a student’s ability to complete their studies.

So what can you do to improve your completion rates?

Here are Some Tips on How to Improve Completion Rates at Your RTO:

Make a Comprehensive Course Description

The dedication of your students plays a vital role in successfully completing their courses. As such, ensuring course completions within your RTO hinges on the availability of high-quality online learning resources that also provides your students with a clear understanding of what to expect. To achieve this, your course description should encompass several key elements, such as the following:

  • The length of the course – It will help learners know how long it will take them to complete the course.

  • Deadlines – Knowing important dates like deadlines will help them prepare accordingly.

  • Description of course content – Learners have expectations from each course, and a detailed description helps them understand whether they’ve signed up for the right path.

  • Prerequisites – Does the course require specific skills? Include them in the course description so students without prerequisites don’t sign up by mistake.

  • Project assignments and technical requirements – Don’t spring unannounced activities or projects on students; let them know about them in advance instead. Similarly, inform students about required tools or resources to help them prepare ahead of time.

Increase Flexibility

Learners often enrol in a course but fail to complete it due to time constraints caused by their participation in the workforce. But if you offer flexible study options that allow students to learn anytime and anywhere, it can help them balance work and study. By doing so, you can help your students feel more confident about taking on more work.

Offering flexible study options through eLearning can be a game-changer for students juggling work and education. This approach not only enhances their ability to manage their commitments effectively but also empowers them to take control of their learning journey. With the accessibility and convenience of eLearning, institutions can provide a more inclusive educational environment that adapts to each student’s unique schedule, promoting higher course completion rates and overall student satisfaction

Improve Course Content Delivery

At times, a significant contributor to low rates of completion may be the mode of delivery for the course itself. But if you improve lacking areas to boost learning engagement, you can capture the attention of students more effectively and encourage them to complete your offered courses.

Maximise Control – Integrate course checkpoints to assess what your learners are absorbing. By doing so, you can gain insight into whether they need more training or are losing interest in the subject.

Make Time for Feedback – Set a specific time to provide feedback or facilitate training meetings to provide supplemental learning. You can also facilitate discussions so students and instructors can interact with each other in a setting where learners can freely ask questions.

Create Engaging Content – Invest in good web design skills and the right software to create engaging, consistent and industry-relevant content. Ensure that your courses are delivered in a user-friendly interface that works across multiple devices to provide the best experience for your learners.

Enhancing course delivery not only improves engagement but also ensures real-world application, a critical factor in online education. By creating content that reflects actual industry scenarios, learners can see the practical use of their knowledge. Interactive case studies, simulations, and real-life problem-solving tasks can be integrated into the courses. These elements bridge the gap between theory and practice, making learning more relevant and impactful. Such application-focused content not only holds students’ attention but also prepares them for real workplace challenges, enhancing both their learning experience and future career prospects.

Assist First-Time Learners

Students who have already completed previous courses are more likely to complete their succeeding ones. However, some of your students may be first-time learners who aren’t used to a new lifestyle that requires them to balance their time between personal matters and study. You can help them by giving them tips and tricks, especially in navigating digital resources.

You can also be a little more lenient with first-time learners. This way, they aren’t intimidated by the changes and can gain a positive experience that motivates them to continue learning.

Incorporating these supportive measures can help you set up your students for success. By fostering an environment where first-time learners feel guided and understood, educational institutions can enhance the efficacy of specialised diploma courses. Providing a nurturing start paves the way for learners to delve into their studies with confidence, ensuring they are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of their chosen fields and succeed in their academic and professional journeys.

Use Social Media

Encourage students to follow your RTO’s social media and post micro-content to capture their interest. Remind them why they enrolled in the course and build engagement at the same time by posting exciting and helpful content that they can use in their studies.

Moreover, you can use social media to create an online community to break down the isolation of online learning. Being part of a community also builds accountability as learners will have a public commitment of working on a course.

Avoid Passive Learning

Courses filled with passive learning materials, such as PowerPoint videos or pages of pure text, can quickly cause learners to lose interest. So, structure your course content in an engaging manner that entices students to participate in active learning.

You can do this by adding short quizzes of two to five questions, a brief assignment, or an interactive puzzle throughout the course material. Also, provide immediate feedback on the activities so learners can remember the lesson better. You can also source your course materials from providers that work with industry experts to create interactive and immersive learning materials designed to improve your students’ quality of learning.

Offer Incentives for Completion

Students need a little motivation at times, especially if they start to lag behind. You can encourage them to study harder by giving special offers, such as a free coaching session or learning material.

You can also use gamification to turn course content into a fun competition. Introduce point-based rewards, special badges and a leaderboard to encourage participation. Most of the time, students like to have outward recognition of their progress, and offering rewards is an excellent way to do it.

How to Choose Quality Learning Resources for Your RTO or TAFE

When it comes to selecting learning resources for your Registered Training Organisation or Technical and Further Education institution, quality is key. That’s because the right resources can enhance the learning experience and promote better outcomes for students. Start by assessing the relevance and currency of the content, ensuring it aligns with industry standards and regulations. Look for resources that offer comprehensive coverage of the subject matter and provide practical examples and case studies. Additionally, consider the credibility and reputation of the authors or publishers, as well as the accessibility and user-friendliness of the resources. By prioritising quality and considering these factors, you can make informed decisions and provide your learners with valuable and effective learning materials.

Boost Completion Rates with Quality Online Learning Materials for RTOs at Didasko

At Didasko Learning Resources, we are leading providers of engaging and interactive online VET resources for your RTO, ensuring first-class, immersive learning for your students. Expect interactive digital challenges, video demonstrations from industry experts, assessments using virtual environments, in-depth reporting and more outstanding features when you choose our materials for eLearning. interactive digital challenges, video demonstrations from industry experts, assessments using virtual environments, in-depth reporting and more outstanding features when you choose our materials for eLearning. Whether it’s the Advanced Diploma of Human Resource Management or other popular courses, our materials are tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners, ensuring a rewarding online learning journey for all.

Let your students experience eLearning at its best with our materials, and book a demo with us today. Call us for your enquiries.

Explore Our Course Materials

At Didasko Learning Resources, we offer a diverse selection of high-quality eLearning materials tailored for popular courses in TAFEs and RTOs. Our comprehensive range includes patisserie courses, hospitality and business courses, and more. One of our newest course materials is for the Certificate III in Carpentry. This nationally recognised qualification equips aspiring carpenters with essential skills and knowledge for a successful career in the construction industry. The course covers fundamental carpentry skills, workplace health and safety practices, and construction regulations and provides hands-on training for practical experience. With industry-relevant insights and flexible learning options, our eLearning resources offer a robust platform for students to excel in their carpentry journey, ensuring a promising and fulfilling career path.

Turning our attention to the hospitality sector, we have meticulously curated materials for the Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management. This course is not just a curriculum; it’s an immersion into the multifaceted world of hospitality. With topics ranging from operational management nuances to the art of strategic foresight, our resources stand as a complete resource of comprehensive education in the field. Infused with pragmatic insights and case studies, our materials for this course are more than just informational; they’re an investment in quality education, ensuring institutions can offer a robust and enlightening experience to their aspiring hospitality professionals.

Furthermore, our commitment to excellence is equally evident in our materials for the Certificate IV in Patisserie. This resource dives deep into the culinary artistry of pastries, exploring not just the science, but the heart and soul of every delightful creation. As the food industry witnesses a rising demand for specialized patisserie chefs, our course materials have been tailored to equip students with the precision, creativity, and understanding required to master this craft. By utilising Didasko’s eLearning resources, institutions can ensure they are delivering a top-tier, industry-relevant education, laying a strong foundation for the future pastry chefs of Australia.

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