Technology

Rethinking retention: Academic strategies to retain distance education students

Published

7 months ago

June 4, 2024

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ —

The following is written by Carlos Morales, Ph.D., President, TCC Connect, a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Prior to the global pandemic, the primary focus in higher education analytics involved enrollment and student success rates. Post-pandemic, the focus shifted to retention and completion rates. This is especially true for institutions in Texas, thanks to the 2023 implementation of House Bill 8. Funding models are now heavily based on retention and completion metrics.

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center in 2021, post-secondary retention rates in the United States declined most in the community college sector (-2.1 percentage points) during the pandemic. The decline proved more dramatic in Texas, where community college enrollment fell 11% during the pandemic, representing a loss of about 80,000 students, according to data from the Texas Education Coordinating Board.

Community college leaders surveyed in 2021 reported increasing student retention rates as one of their top two priorities: a comprehensive approach including flexible scheduling of courses and enhanced support services is a common strategy. While student retention is dependent on external factors — work demands, finances, personal motivation, health, childcare, etc. — research also shows a direct correlation between distinct online course elements and class retention. Executive leadership often discusses the topic of retention; yet faculty and instructional designers hold the keys to building relationships and retaining students for an institution.

Tarrant County College is an urban, Hispanic-serving institution with six campuses. TCC Connect Campus, formed in 2014 and entering its tenth year, is the centralized provider of online courses and programs for the college. TCC Connect Campus continually exceeds the national student retention rate. In Spring 2023, the retention rate was 90%, up from 88% in 2021.

This data reflects an understanding that empowering faculty is paramount to successful student retention. We employ academic strategies and campus processes directly supporting faculty efforts to retain students in their online courses, including:

Online Instructor Certification (OIC)Peer Developed Courses (PDC)E-Faculty CoachingOnline Faculty Performance Indicators (FPI)Supplemental Evaluation FeedbackAdoption of Quality Matters (QM) Review StandardsData DashboardsCampus Data TeamFaculty & Leadership Resource RepositoriesCourse Readiness Checklist

Alignment of academic strategies and campus processes is paramount. For example, the Course Readiness Checklist:

ensures that a course is student-ready and includes fully accessible content organized into sequenced modules with a Start Here page, per Peer Developed Course design principles; this aids student retention by offering students a consistent navigation experience. Students can focus on content rather than learn how to locate information or interact with the learning management system.includes criteria based on QM standards to check prior to the start of a course; this aids student retention by including all policies, student support services, links, handbooks, etc. Students can quickly locate the resources they need, minimizing frustration.automates requests to an instructional designer, e-faculty coach or department chair. The faculty member has instant access to support in preparing their online class. This allows them greater opportunity to focus on pedagogical elements and interaction, prioritizing their student-centric role.

Retaining students at the community college level requires collaborative, innovative and fluid thinking. Understanding the data — why students leave and why they stay — is the first step. Acknowledging that faculty are a great asset in building relationships — one student and one course at a time — comes next. The community college leader must support faculty and include academic initiatives in the comprehensive approach to increase overall student retention.

Quality courses, delivered by enthusiastic educators, motivate students to stay and progress towards graduation.

Uniquely American, community colleges serve more than 10 million students annually, providing critical access to higher education in academic and workforce development. As the voice of the nation’s community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC’s member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support to increase economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/

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SOURCE American Association of Community Colleges

Technology

BingX Introduces ALTCOIN Index Futures Trading: One Click, Countless Trends

Published

11 minutes ago

December 27, 2024

VILNIUS, Lithuania, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — BingX, a global leading cryptocurrency exchange, is excited to announce the launch of ALTCOIN Index, the first futures trading pair involving top altcoins. This innovative trading product offers users a one-click solution to efficiently track and trade major cryptocurrency trends with ease.

Traditionally used in stock markets, a futures index is a financial derivative that tracks the performance of a group of assets, such as stocks of commodities. These instruments were first introduced to simplify trading by allowing investors to speculate on or hedge against the collective movements of selected market sectors. Instead of purchasing individual stocks, traders are able to access broad market exposure in a single transaction, saving time and reducing costs.

In the cryptocurrency market, this new ALTCOIN/USDT futures trading pair works similarly by bundling the performance of the top mainstream cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins. The current index includes ETH, XRP, SOL, BNB, DOGE, ADA, TRX, AVAX, and SHIB. This approach is more efficient compared to buying individual cryptocurrencies or ETFs as this allows for direct speculation using tiered leverage options without the need to manage multiple positions, effectively diversifying trading risks associated with individual asset volatility.

Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer of BingX, commented on the new offering: “By aggregating a range of leading cryptocurrencies into a single trading instrument, we’re giving users a practical and efficient way to better capture market trends. This index trading pair should help our less experienced users with their trading goals more easily, particularly when they are unsure which asset to trade and just want to trade major altcoins in general with leverage.”

BingX users can take advantage of tiered leverage options and competitive rates consistent with the platform’s perpetual futures terms, simplifying open order management and enhancing trading efficiency. The platform also ensures that the index composition remains current, with regular quarterly adjustments and temporary updates in response to market conditions.

About BingX
Founded in 2018, BingX is a leading crypto exchange, serving over 10 million users worldwide. BingX offers diversified products and services, including spot, derivatives, copy trading, and asset management – all designed for the evolving needs of users, from beginners to professionals. BingX is committed to providing a trustworthy platform that empowers users with innovative tools and features to elevate their trading proficiency. In 2024, BingX proudly became the official crypto exchange partner of Chelsea Football Club, marking an exciting debut in the world of sports.

For more information please visit: https://bingx.com/

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SOURCE BingX

Technology

Lyric’s first solid-state battery front-end equipment is shipped to customer in United States

Published

11 minutes ago

December 27, 2024

BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, Lyric’s first solid-state battery front-end equipment has been shipped to a customer in the United States. Relying on its deep accumulation in the field of solid-state battery technology, Lyric has achieved strategic development on the global stage.

As of now, Lyric’s Z-shape stacking machine has reached the forefront of the industry, achieving an efficient stacking speed of 0.1s/pcs and ultra-high precision alignment of ≤ ± 0.3mm, setting an industry benchmark. At the same time, with the innovative design, the double planetary mixer realizes the efficient mixing of various viscosity materials, showing extraordinary flexibility, and significantly enhances the safety and efficiency of the production process through the iterative upgrade of automation technology, and provides customized services to accurately meet customer needs.

Looking to the future, Lyric will continue to expand its global footprint, based on the deep accumulation in the field of solid-state batteries since 2020, and its patented technology of dry electrode and stacking process and self-developed equipment advantages, Lyric not only demonstrates excellent capabilities in the manufacture of solid-state battery production equipment, but also provides a full range of solutions. Covers customized delivery from a single station to the entire production line. In terms of international cooperation, Lyric is actively seeking cooperation opportunities with more overseas enterprises, aiming to promote China’s solid-state battery equipment technology and solutions to the global market, further enhance its influence and competitiveness in the global renewable energy industry chain, and jointly explore unlimited possibilities in the field of renewable energy.

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SOURCE Lyric

Technology

Life-Space Wins Prestigious 62nd Australian Export Awards

Published

11 minutes ago

December 27, 2024

MELBOURNE, Australia, Dec. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — At the prestigious 62nd Australian Export Awards held at Parliament House in Canberra, Life-Space, Australia’s No. 1 probiotic brand, proudly claimed the title of ‘E-commerce Winner of the Australian Export Awards 2024’. This incredible achievement underscores Life-Space’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class health solutions to global consumers, fuelled by innovative digital strategies and a robust e-commerce presence.

Celebrating Australian Export Excellence

The Australian Export Awards, established in 1963 and presented by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) in collaboration with State and Territory awards programs, is a premier national program. It recognises the achievements of Australia’s most outstanding, innovative, and inspiring exporters, highlighting their significant contributions to the nation’s economy.

A Global Leader in Consumer Health

Life-Space has established itself as a trusted name in probiotics, offering products that support gut microbiome and whole-body health. Exporting to over 20 countries, including China and key Southeast Asian markets, Life-Space continues to redefine the global consumer health landscape. The brand’s dedication to scientific innovation, high-quality manufacturing, and consumer education has made it a household name worldwide.

Driving E-commerce Excellence

The award recognises Life-Space’s exceptional ability to adapt to the ever-evolving digital marketplace. Through strategic collaborations, robust online platforms, and consumer-centric marketing campaigns, Life-Space has consistently delivered value to its customers while expanding its global footprint. Notably, Life-Space has seen explosive growth in China’s cross-border e-commerce market, alongside outstanding performance in Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The Singapore market, in particular, has recorded an impressive 140% annual growth rate for three consecutive years.

‘This recognition is a testament to the passion and hard work of the entire Life-Space team,’ said Alan Yi, Life-Space Group’s General Manager – Global Business, ‘We are proud to represent Australia on the global stage and remain dedicated to bringing the best in probiotics to consumers worldwide.’

Looking Ahead

As Life-Space celebrates this milestone, the brand is focused on forging new market opportunities, advancing health education, and introducing cutting-edge products that enhance everyday health and well-being.

“Our vision for 2025 includes expanding our export capacity and preparing to introduce our products to the U.S. market,” added Yi. “This achievement further reinforces our position as a global leader in consumer health.”

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SOURCE Life-Space