This beta group has been going on for a year, early 2019. Our retention rate is really poor, until today's posting about 400 signups and only 8 made it to the end. The current first phase is actually to answer this question:
"For the students that complete the whole curriculum, could they contribute to a codebase that users use and follow good coding practices like an engineer would?"
The answer is yes, so now we have a happy path. Next phase is to increase this funnel.
When students engage with me to ask questions, I usually just ask them directly: "If you decide that this isn't for you, please let me or someone else on the team know before you do so we understand how we can make this a better learning platform for future students"
not enough engagement. If I reach out to students and engage in conversations with them regularly, they have a higher chance of following through. I start high up in the funnel, to pay utmost attention to students who are at the end (JS6). Then when I have free time, I go down the funnel and pull students up. As I polish the end, I get more and more time to engage with students lower in the funnel. I just reach out and say hi, ask them why they are learning and if they have any questions and concerns.
That sounds great, the way you are doing it.
I think companies end up gamifying the product approach,to generate feelings that are similar to what happens when you engage one on one (from a neuroscience perspective)
"For the students that complete the whole curriculum, could they contribute to a codebase that users use and follow good coding practices like an engineer would?"
The answer is yes, so now we have a happy path. Next phase is to increase this funnel.