The Learner Journey Framework: A Constructivist Approach to Retention, Course Design, and Financial Sustainability in Higher Education

Abstract

The learner journey framework integrates constructivist principles with Bloom's Taxonomy to provide a structured course design and assessment creation model. This model emphasises scaffolded assessments that align with Bloom's cognitive levels—from recall and understanding to analysing, evaluating, and creating—to mitigate the retention challenges facing higher education institutions. As colleges and universities contend with growing financial pressures and the looming enrolment cliff, the learner journey framework offers a practical solution for improving student engagement, retention, and academic success. This article demonstrates how scaffolded learning can provide financial and academic sustainability through a synthesis of research on constructivism, sequential learning, feedback mechanisms, and cognitive development.

Keywords: Learner journey, Bloom's Taxonomy, constructivism, scaffolded learning, sequential learning, zone of proximal development, retention, enrolment cliff, financial sustainability

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/16-1-13

Publication date: January 30th 2025