Retention on the Free CCNA1 for instructors

Retention is probably one of the least interesting, yet most discussed topics within any educational programme. It does not matter if it is distance based or within a traditional classroom. If a course is not necessarily compulsory - how do you make them stay, how do you nail their bottoms to the seats, physical or virtual?

Having run our Free CCNA1 Instructor Training course, like a xMOOC. We combined the Cisco CCNA1 - Introduction to Networks content, with 1000 instructor wannabes and Facebook.

The results are interesting. While the scores are not yet on the doors, we can see that we have surpassed the typical global retention of any MOOC format. The first cohort of examinees are sitting - others are still booking as we have a rolling window of opportunity. This does mean that we have afforded the Cisco Netacad Canvas platform, a xMOOC'esqe experience, while actually being a Virtual Learning Environment.

What gave this xMOOC teaching the teacher experience and added dimension - is the inclusion of Facebook Live. Here, the creation of a Facebook Page and use of the live broadcasting feature. Concentrated the external experience into one fixed location. Which could also be embedded within the Cisco platform.

This means that our retention is better than the norm, and therefore better than we expected - extending the xMOOC paradigm and offering us a potential hybrid delivery model. The added benefit, is that we can offer those who have not fully participated a future opportunity to re-enrol among our new enrolments for October.