Orienting Students to Online Learning

Sharon Ram March 13, 2015

About Me

ESL teacher at FACE (Fremont Adult & Continuing Education) http://www.face.edu/Domain/255

Topics for Today

• • • What is your experience in orienting students to online learning?

Elements of the orientation Examples of orientations

After this session…

• • • Revisit/Revise your Orientation process And… Look at examples of different orientations And… Be inspired with new ideas!

Let’s start a discussion!

http://padlet.com/sram/tdls2015

Purpose of an Orientation

• An orientation is an opportunity to: – Convey information – Explain student resources and services – Bolster retention efforts – Build excitement – Boost student confidence

Student Retention Rate

• Student retention in online education is a concern for students, faculty and administration. Retention rates are 20% lower in online courses than in traditional face-to-face courses. As part of an integration and engagement strategy, a face-to-face orientation was added to an online undergraduate business information systems course to examine its impact on retention. The study methodology consisted of an early email contact, distribution of course documents, a follow-up phone call, and a pre-course face to-face orientation. The retention rate of students who attended the orientation was over 91%.... The retention rate of students not attending the orientation was just under 18%. Findings suggest that face-to-face orientations impact retention positively.

Reference: http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/winter124/ali124.html

Discussion: What do you do?

• • • What is your experience and practice in orienting students to your class?

What are some of the components of an orientation?

(Write it on our padlet!

)

A Thorough Orientation is Essential • • Because it reduces future repeated questions, frustration, and possible stopping out.

Students will have more positive feelings about the course and program.

But what about Student Readiness?

• • How do you know if a student is ready to take an online course?

How do you know if the online medium is right from them?

Student Readiness

• • An assessment of the readiness of the student for online learning Example: http://www.unc.edu/tlim/ser/

Sharon’s Quick Student Assessments

Moodle Workshop at FACE

Moodle eLearning Workshop

Pause…

• • • • What about you?

What would you include in your “Online Readiness Survey”?

Write in our padlet .

Orientation Components

• • • • • • • • • • Register/Log in to websites Syllabus, course topics Technological requirements, online tools Tips for success How to… Contact the teacher Expectations Netiquette Support resources Building an online community

Objectives of an Online Orientation • Objectives of an online orientation: a) provisions to help students develop a sense of belonging to the institution b) develop the students' understanding of the mode of learning c) become familiar with students support services d) foster social networking and community building activities e) facilitate the adjustment to the academic environment and f) increase students' comfort level with the equipment by means of activities that help them to become proficient with the use of hardware and software required Reference: https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/2330/Strategies4orient.pdf?sequence=2

Increasing Success

• · Online orientation should be interactive, · introduce students to the type of assignments that they will be required to complete, · · allow for the development of technical and computer skills that will be needed to complete coursework, introduce institutional policies, procedures, and resources, · · assist students with developing appropriate time management and study skills, and help students to develop appropriate NetEtiquette.

http://www.vccaedu.org/inquiry/inquiry-spring-2008/1-13-Harrell.html

• Online Resources/Tools for your Orientation Tools that could deliver orientation or help explain what students what they need to do – Instructional videos with Jing – Screen shots – – Video welcome Voki – Brainshark – Prezi – Any other ideas? (Write in on our padlet .)

• • • • • • • Tools to create/enhance online community Student profiles – hobbies, favorite quote Teacher announcement Picture Voki – welcome message Webcam welcome message Synchronous chats or meetings (Google hangouts) Add F2F sessions

Examples of Orientations

Example 1: Florida Virtual School

• • • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMWhn5 YEOlw&list=PL0HfpmMDpgwxbKy4aLGUEPF 00nj6A-ofy&noredirect=1 Largest virtual school in the US What do you like/dislike about the orientation?

Example 2: Broward College

https://bconline.broward.edu/shared/orientation/index.html

Example 3: F.A.C.E

• • • • • • • What I’ve done: Face to Face Orientation (Group and individual) Workshops for students – try out the course Put all my info on DL website Office hours http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/Domain/255 http://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/domain/186

Characteristics of a Successful Online Learner • • • List of characteristics http://www.fairmontstate.edu/academics/distancelearning/s uccessful_student.asp

http://www.jbu.edu/assets/online/resource/file/Are_you_new _to_distance_learning.pdf

Sharon’s Orientation Packet

• • • • • • For Moodle Course in Summer 2014 6 weeks F2F Orientation Open Labs Students wanted to meet every week F2F Assessments (ELC)

And you?

• What are you taking away from this presentation?

• Write your thoughts here: http://padlet.com/sram/tdls2015

Questions, Comments, Contact

• • Thank you for joining me today!

Contact: Sharon Ram • • [email protected]

Don’t forget to fill out the evaluation.

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Bonus Website!

• http://www.mdfaconline.org/modules/module_b.html