Thesis
Educational pathways taken by K - 12 students when they withdrew from an online distance education program and the reasons why they withdrew
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2024
Abstract
Online learning for students in K - 12 is a fast-developing aspect of education in Australia. The aim of this study was to analyse the reasons parents withdraw their children from an online program prior to completion of their schooling and to investigate their subsequent pathways of education. Upon withdrawing their child from SDE, parents are asked to complete an exit survey providing information about why they are withdrawing their child and their child’s intended subsequent educational pathway. These de-identified data (n=822 students), collected by the school between 2017 to 2021 from parents at the point of withdrawal from SDE, were analysed quantitatively using descriptive statistics. Parents were also able to provide qualitative comments on the exit survey (n=402), which were thematically analysed. The findings showed that there was an overwhelming number of students who transitioned to mainstream schooling after they had withdrawn from SDE. The two main reasons why students withdrew were, firstly, their need for greater socialisation and secondly, the resolution of their reasons for enrolment into SDE. This study has contributed to an area previously unstudied in Western Australia and the wider Australian community.
Details
- Title
- Educational pathways taken by K - 12 students when they withdrew from an online distance education program and the reasons why they withdrew
- Authors/Creators
- Terry A Phipson
- Contributors
- Laura Perry PhD (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of EducationVeronica Gardiner PhD (Supervisor) - Murdoch University, School of Education
- Awarding Institution
- Murdoch University; Masters by Research
- Identifiers
- 991005640269707891
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Education
- Resource Type
- Thesis
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