Why completion rates drop
Most courses lose students in the first two modules, not the last. The drop-off usually traces back to pacing — too much foundational theory before any hands-on payoff.
Students need an early win. If the first tangible result is buried in week three, a large share of your class won't get there.
Structuring for momentum
Break modules into a rhythm of concept, practice, and small checkpoint. Each checkpoint should be something a student can point to and say 'I made this.'
Momentum compounds. A student who finishes module one is far more likely to finish module two than a student who's still stuck on it.
Measuring what matters
Completion rate alone hides the story. Track where students stall, not just whether they finish, so you know exactly which module to redesign first.