Best Practices for Online Student Success

Panel Presentation ~ October 23, 2009

Engaging and Retaining Online Students: Orientation, Mentorship, and Community

• Retention – pervasive, continuouso College web site information, marketingo Admissions, Advising interactions o “Road to Success in Online Learning”o Online Orientationo Peer-to-Peer Mentoring - new online studentso E-Newslettero Online Clubs

Overlapping Efforts

• Orientation            Road to Success in Online Learning• Mentorship

Peer-to-Peer Mentoring for New Online Students

• Communityo Online Book Clubo Online Healthy Café o E-Newsletter for Online Students

“Road to Success in  Online Learning”

• Required or voluntary? • Introduces concept of online learning• Introduces learning management system• Practice and engagement• Post thread, create and upload Word file,

complete online quiz• Refers students back to Advising Office or

Distance Learning Office

“Online Orientation”

• Automatic enrollment for new online learners

• Mandatory; Academic Integrity Policy

• Meet your Distance Learning staff!o Staff, faculty o Academic resources o Bb tools, communityo Online clubs, e-newsletter, more

Peer Mentoring – What we know• Why? 

o 3.5 million students enrolled in at least one online course, up 10% from previous year (Sloan-C, 2007)

o 83% of administrators anticipate growtho 56% expect lower retention rate among online

students – barrier• Onsite peer mentors make a difference

o Students helping students  (Ender & Newton, 2000; Zachary, 2005)

o Strengthen and deepen relationships and connections to the college

Online Peer-to-Peer Mentoring• Purpose

o Identify experienced, successful online learners (mentors) to train, and then partner with brand-new online students (mentees) during their first semester

• Mentors –o 3.0 GPAo Upper-class statuso Recommendation, invitation, applicationo Online training module o Assigned to mentor new online studentso Supervision and support from Student Life

Online Peer-to-Peer Mentoring

• Evaluationo How many student mentors return for next term?o Do we tout the leadership opportunity for student mentors?o What is the optimum ratio of mentor:mentee? o How well do we retain new students to subsequent terms?  o How else can we measure results? (DB feedback; live chat)

• Challengeso Lack of participation by new online students (mentees)o Accountability with mentorso Perceived value by all stakeholders

Community

• Online Clubso Book Clubo Healthy Caféo Expand onsite clubs through the

use of various online tools• E-Newsletter

o Three issues per semestero Theme-based issues

ResourcesAllen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2007). Online nation: Five years of growth in  online learning. Needham, MA: The Sloan Consortium. Bower, B. L., & Hardy, K. P. (Eds.). (2005). From distance learning to e-learning: Lessons along the way. New Directions for Community Colleges, no. 128. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Ender, S. C., & Newton, F. B. (2000). Students helping students: A guide for peer educators on college campuses. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Kruger, K. (Ed.). (2006). Technology in student affairs: Supporting student learning and services. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Zachary, L. J.  (2005). Creating a mentoring culture: The organization’s guide. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Zachary, L. J. (2000). The mentor’s guide: Facilitating effective learning relationships. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Engaging Learners for Student Success

• Engagement with Content, Faculty, and Other Students

• Icebreaker• Effective Discussions• Team Activities• Reflective Activities• Resources

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Engaging with Contenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T40F-zuspww&feature=PlayList&p=DEF78215A9A24D96&index=0&playnext=1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVT6RXlwIyQ&feature=channel

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Engaging with Contenthttp://www.intelecomonline.net/VideoPlayer.aspx?Code=2F1DB285CE9E21CEEF21B63BFBE5B5F25D2273D809A5D2D35AAECD1611ACE8D34257680A5B940E2B77F9B9512222BA8C

Engaging Learners for Student Success: The Icebreaker

 

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Engaging Discussionshttp://csmwebbp.blogspot.com/2009/07/engaging-students-in-math-courses.html

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Group Activities   • Consider allowing learners to choose the project.• Allow more time.• Groups don't have to be formal.• Google Docs!

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Reflective Activities 

Engaging Learners for Student Success: Resources  www.docs.google.com http://csmwebbp.blogspot.com/ http://www.intelecomonline.net/ http://csmwebbp.blogspot.com/   

Success Initiatives for eLearners

Distance learning

Distance Learning

Distance

Learning

Floyd and Casey-Powell Model

• Learner Intake Phase

• Learner Intervention Phase

• Learner Support Phase

• Learner Transition Phase

• Measurement PhaseFloyd, D. L., & Casey-Powell, D. (2004). New roles for student support services in distance learning. New Directions for Community Colleges, 128, 55-64.

Learner Intake Phase

Students need information about online learning, admissions, online programs, placement testing, contact information, financial aid, scholarships, and orientation to the college.

Students need to determine whether or not online learning is appropriate for their learning style, level of motivation, and personal needs.

Learner Intervention Phase

This phase begins with the student’s first online course.Students learn how to become effective online learners. They learn about the institution’s services that are designed to support students, such as tutoring, library services, and technical support.

First-time Online Learners

• Mailers and emails• Orientations (on campus, online, webinars)• Call-out Processes

o One week before the start of the semestero Days 3 and 7

• Rosters (to faculty)• ANGEL Aides• Early warning forms

Thursdays with Joyce!Distance Learners, you now have an online advisor just for you! 

On Thursday evenings, from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., join Academic Advisor Joyce Murphy as she answers your general academic questions. To participate, all you need are speakers (required) and a microphone (optional). Go to http://www.aacc.edu/virtualcampus/virtualmeeting.cfm for directions on setting up your computer. It’s easy and will only take a few minutes.

Learner Support Phase

The Learner Support Phase covers the remainder of the semester (week 2 and beyond).

Students develop additional skills that lead to successful course completion. Students may develop these skills by working with faculty, academic advisors, and other support staff.