FST Graduate Research Topic

Research Topic: Dropout prediction in online learning
Suggested By: Ali Dewan
Last Update: April 16th, 2025

A high dropout rate is a major concern in online courses. If students who are prone to dropping out can be identified early in the course, the dropout rate may be reduced by providing personalyzed support to those at risk. Due to the digital nature of learning management systems, various aspects of students’ progress can be automatically monitored and analyzed over time. The objective of this research is to explore what information about a student's progress can be tracked in an online course and how this information can be used with machine learning or deep learning techniques to predict dropout-prone students at an early stage. This study will also examine the effectiveness of combining different features and using ensemble classifiers for improved prediction accuracy. This research topic is suitable for Thesis, Project, and Essay route students.