Does the early bird get the worm????

Submitted by Rachel Smith on
Duration
-
Abstract

EMCC has recently instituted a "no late enrollment" policy, due to the understanding that "learning starts on Day One" and the idea that students who enroll after the first day of class generally are not as prepared, and therefore not as successful as their peers who were in the class from the beginning.  However, does this phenomenon reach back even further in time?  Do students who enroll early in a class do better than those that enroll at the last minute (even though they did enroll before the first day)?   Anecdotally, it seems that students who are organized and prepared and enroll early do better than those who enroll at the  last minute.  In this study I am looking at the success of students who enrolled in BIO181, BIO201 and CHM130 sections that were added to the Fall 2016 schedule at the last minute in comparison to the sucess of students who were in the same class with the same instructor, but in a section that had been accepting enrollment for months. 

Division/Department
Completed Full Cycle
No
Course Number
BIO181
BIO201
CHM130
Rating
Average: 5 (2 votes)

Comments

Peter Turner Wed, 09/14/2016 - 10:29am

Sure look forward to the results, Rachel! What a great idea for a CATS!

Olga Tsoudis Thu, 09/15/2016 - 11:12am

Rachel, I am so curious to the results from your study. What a great idea! I have always wondered about this even with some late start courses. Thanks! Olga

Patricia Cardenas-Adame Mon, 09/19/2016 - 4:04pm

Rachel, I am also intereseted in these results.  I opened my ENG 102 to extra students on the wait list the Friday before classes started.  I wonder if students added from wait list will be as successful.  Interesting things to find out.

Reynaldo Rivera Mon, 09/19/2016 - 4:57pm

Rachel, looking forward to the results, I had a similar situation a few years ago with my MAT 151 College Algebra classes.  See if we get similar results.

Becky Baranowski Mon, 09/19/2016 - 6:45pm

Like Rey said, I also did the same in a class of mine many moons ago.  I am curious as to whether you will have the same results as me.  

Catherine Cochran Tue, 09/20/2016 - 9:02am

Hi Rachel,

I am curious to what the results will be with your study.  This would be great to relate to the different types of procrastinators.  Do students with a particular procrastination style/type affect their class registration outcome?  Thank you for sharing!

Teri Graham Tue, 09/20/2016 - 9:24am

I am sure the results will create an interesting discussion and hopefully validate our emphasis on Day One :-)

Rachel Smith Tue, 09/20/2016 - 12:22pm

Wow!! thanks for all your comments and interest.  This is a "HOT" CATS!!  I will have the data to share in December, so watch this space :)

Incidentally, I  had no idea there were various styles of procrastination.  I consider myself something of a connoisseur of procrastination and an expert practitioner.  I wonder what my style is??????  

Teri Graham Thu, 01/12/2017 - 11:12am

Rachel, I am looking forward to the results....

I experienced this with my fast track course in the Fall.  The MAT081 16 week courses filled up so students began enrolling in the 8 week course because it was the only one still open seats.  I prepare the students the first day about the pace and expectations but students who were not prepared still remained and I had one of my lowest success rates in that course.

Becky Baranowski Thu, 03/23/2017 - 10:02am

Hi Rachel - I just wanted to follow up with this and see if you had any results from fall on enrolling early vs not.  Thanks!