Identify and Analyze The Components Affecting The Atudent's Retention in E-learning Environment

Aims: The present study was done to identify and analyze the components affecting the students’ retention in e-learning environment.
This research is applied in terms of its purpose and is exploratory mixed method in terms of the recognition of factors affecting the retention of students on the basis of theoretical and experimental background. The concepts and related theoretical foundations were exactly examined in this study (from 2000 to 2016) and affective components were explored in students’ retention. The components were based on five aspects and a questionnaire containing fifty-six questions was prepared and sent to 30 experts in the field of e-learning to precisely prioritize the components and indices. The questionnaire validity was affirmed according to experts’ ideas and its reliability was obtained 84% through Cronbach's Alfa method. Research data were analyzed using SPSS Version 18 software and Friedman nonparametric test.
The results showed that the factors related to learner,courses, tutors, technology and learner environment were prioritized respectively.
To maintain more students in e-learning environment, some factors are required to encourage more students to continue the electronic course: special attention to students’ management and computer skills, interaction factor, organizational support, instructor ability and attitude, technology quality, internet quality and providing supportive environment.