Transcript League for Innovation, October 2003

Great Starts:
Effectively Orienting
Your Distance Learners
Virginia Kirk, Director, Distance Learning
[email protected]; Howard Community College
Mary Wells, Director, Distance Learning
[email protected]; Prince George’s Community
College
Maryland Community Colleges
Great Starts:
Effectively Orienting
Your Distance Learners
Baltimore City Community College
Carroll Community College
Howard Community College
Prince George’s Community Colleges
Maryland Community Colleges
Why Is Orientation Important?
• Impacts Student Success/Retention
• Impacts Instructor Satisfaction
• Impacts Overall Quality of Your
Distance Learning Program
Welcome Letter
• Your Welcome Letter
– How/When To Send It
– What Should It Include
• Examples
http://academic.pgcc.edu/ole
What Should Be Included?
•
•
•
•
•
Contact Instructors
Contact Support Systems
Procedures
Required Skills
Caveats
Required Study Skills
• What grades do you usually earn?
• Can you read/understand text?
• Can you meet deadlines
Required Technical Skills
• Access to a computer, email, Internet
• Able to navigate using the Internet
• Basic Computer Skills
–
–
–
–
–
Type
Use a mouse
Able to Cut, Copy and Paste text
Able to use email
Able to attach a file
Caveats
•
•
•
•
•
NOT for every student
More flexible, but NOT easier
Must have time to work on courses
Must be willing to do the work
Must have access to technology
– email
– Internet
How Will You Orient Students?
• On-campus
• By Mail (snail or email)
• On the Web
– Within Courses
– With Sample Course Sites
What Information to Include?
• Study Skills
• Student Support
• How to Use the Course Platform
On-campus
• Individual Course Orientations
• General Sessions
By Mail— Snail or Email
On the Web
• Within Courses
• With Sample Course Sites
– http://www.bccc.edu/home/dzilberman/dlpresentation/O
nline-Orientation-Pp.htm
– http://www.carrollcc.edu/blackboard/default.asp
– http://webct.howardcc.edu:8900