orientation modules for online education: guiding learners to success in online courses at the...

Orientation Modules for Online Education:

Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses

at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Rowan University

Diane Holtzman, Dennis Fotia The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey andMichael Ciocco, Rowan University

Presented at the Sloan-C 16th Annual International Conference on Online LearningNovember 3-5, 2010 Orlando, FL

Need for Orientation to Distance Education

The distinctive nature of an online course as compared to a face-to-face (F2F) course:

•Both teaching and learning to be addressed

•Technology also needs to be addressed

•Students must be prepared for Distance EducationHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses

Presented at the Sloan-C 16th Annual International Conference on Online Learning Nov 3-5, 2010 in Orlando, FL.

Why have a Student Orientation for Distance

Education?• To free individual faculty from having to determine if

a student is ready for an online course• For the student to self-assess his/her own readiness

for online learning• To make sure that students understand the nature of

online education and are realistic about the type and amount of work involved• To explain what is involved in the particular

institution’s online coursesHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Learning Outcomes of Online Orientation at Stockton

•To learn or get a refresher on basic technology, time management, and organizational and study skills.

•To learn how to write and read in an academic, online environment.

•To learn the basics of online etiquette, or netiquette.•To find out specifically how Stockton offers its

Distance Education courses.•To be able to decide for yourself if you are ready to

take an online course.Holtzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Middle States Commission on Higher Education Publication Endorsed by all

Regional Accrediting Associations

• Student support consists of many components, including assisting “the prospective student in understanding independent learning expectations as well as the nature and potential challenges of learning in the program’s technology-based environment.” (http://www.msche.org/publications/distguide02050208135713.pdf, p. 15).

• The Commission notes the importance of student preparation for online or distance learning, and the institution’s necessary commitment to facilitating this preparation.

Holtzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online CoursesPresented at the Sloan-C 16th Annual International Conference on Online Learning Nov 3-5, 2010 in Orlando, FL.

http://www.msche.org/publications/distguide02050208135713.pdf

http://www.msche.org/publications/distguide02050208135713.pdf

USDLA Journal

“All first-time distance education students should be given a clear

statement of course requirements in advance. This should include:

1) all course requirements; 2) the weekly time commitment and

specific computer skills required by the course; and 3) a

presentation of the practical difficulties of working at a distance

and what is needed to manage those challenges successfully.” http://www.usdla.org/html/journal/NOV01_Issue/article03.html


Online Orientation To Promote Interactive Learning

•Good practice encourages students to “discuss” course work with one another in online environment

•Good practice also encourages students to “discuss” course work with professor in online environment

•Orientation can introduce students to these critical concepts


Why an Orientation?Rowan University CGCE

• Welcome Back!▫Most students are Continuing Ed

Community College Transfers Taking on a Masters/Doctorate Program Adding to their credentials

▫ Lapse since Students last participated in a class environment

• Are You Ready for This?▫Technophile = Computer Literate (NOT always TRUE)

Many recent Grads who start a Continuing Ed or Graduate program lack essential computer skills

▫Online/Hybrid courses are convenient & flexible, but still require commitment Student Perception: Online = Easy (Almost Never True)Holtzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Goals of OrientationRowan University CGCE

•Get Students Started Early▫Prepares students before the first class starts

•Set Expectations▫Make clear the style of the course offerings (online,

hybrid, web assisted)▫Expected Commitments▫Policies and Procedures

• Inform students about how to access Services▫Technical Support▫Administrative Support (registration, financial aid,

grades)Holtzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online CoursesPresented at the Sloan-C 16th Annual International Conference on Online Learning Nov 3-5, 2010 in Orlando, FL.

Limitations of OrientationRowan University CGCE

• Bound Orientation Materials such that they▫ Are pertinent to the first-time student▫ Do not dive much below the surface

Do not drown the first-time student in a sea of comprehensive information

▫ Provide Training Just in Time Retention of training materials and information is often

poor when not put immediately into practice▫ Require minimal support

“Self Service” style orientations force students to explore the material

Make this easy to maintain and update for your institutionHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Commitment to Customer ServiceRowan University CGCE

• Encourage Students to Help Themselves▫Provide 1st Tier Self-Service Support

• Make Assistance Available▫2nd Tier 24/7 Tech Support

• Make Escalation of Issues a Process▫Only justified, on-going problems should receive priority

• How to Commit Students to Orientation?▫ “We Told You So” approach

Warn Students of the Perils of not Completing the Orientation Course

▫Some faculty/programs integrate it into their coursesHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Interactive exercise

•Audience quiz-3 questions (Diane)


Overview of Online Orientation Modules Stockton College

• Basic Technology

• Time Management, Study Skills and Organizational Skills

• Written Communication and Reading

• Netiquette

• Distance Education at Stockton


Basic Technology• Basic word processing skills• Cutting and pasting• Using mouse (right click)• Search engines• Course Management Systems (CMS/LMS)



Time Management, Study Skills and Organizational Skills• Use of calendars and PDAs for class assignments• Creating “to-do” list• Organizing work area• Saving work/creating back ups• File management (organization)



Written Communication and Reading• Emphasize amount of reading and writing in an online

course• Importance of writing clearly• Importance of grammar, punctuation, and citations• Diversity of writing assignments: discussion posts, formal

research, and blogs



Netiquette• Online courtesy and respect for each other• Limit use of acronyms and emoticons• Avoiding improper postings and “IM-ese”



Distance Education• CMS/LMS• Technical support/help desk• Registration procedures• Mandatory and additional required meetings• Student evaluations of instruction (IDEA-SRI)• Plagiarism (Turnitin) and academic honesty • Library Online services• Distributed Education instructional methods

(hybrid/online)



•DEO- Distance Education Orientation at The Richard Stockton College of NJ

Examples of Student TutorialsStockton College


http://intraweb.stockton.edu/deo/index.html

Orientation MethodologyRowan University CGCE

• Keep it To The Point▫Blackboard Training Materials are provided in each course: Bb

Help Center▫Orientation teaches students how to quickly access the training

materials WHEN they need them [Just in Time]▫Short and sweet –videos are approx 5 minutes long

• Easily Accessible▫Housed as a course in the Blackboard system▫The Orientation is available 21 days prior to a student’s very first

course▫ It remains available for as long as the student is registered with

CGCE classes at RowanHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Orientation DesignRowan University CGCE

• Theme: Blackboard Boot Camp▫ Students are Cadets in Boot Camp▫ Instructions in the form of a Mission Briefing

• Core Content Consists of 6 Five-Minute Videos = 30 Min Total▫ Voice-Over PPT Video plays On Demand (YouTube.com hosted

works on Mobile Platform)▫ Students do not have to complete in one sitting

• General Theme: “Where you should go for…”• Contains a Blackboard Practice Area

▫ Setup like a sample course with REAL content▫ Students are encouraged to test Computers with Bb tools

• Wraps up with Exit SurveyHoltzman, Fotia & Ciocco. Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses


Orientation ModulesRowan University CGCE

• Introduction – Sets the tone and expectations for the orientation and videos to follow.

•Systems & Services – Learn where to access Student Portal, Blackboard, Banner, Tech Support, etc.

•Computer Prep – Perform a computer compatibility check; learn how to manage computer issues

•Course Structure – Presentation of standardized Rowan CGCE course structure and how to navigate the course in Blackboard

•Course Syllabus – Overview of standardized Rowan CGCE course syllabus

•Blackboard Tools – Overview of Blackboard course tools; what each tool is for and where to access it


Video Module DesignRowan University CGCE

•Common Components▫Title Slide with definitive title▫Session Overview: defines learning goals of the video▫General Content▫Session Wrap Up: reviews learning goals of the video

an recaps any important points.

•Recordings (Voice-Over) are scripted. Script & Slides available for download (PDF) for ADA compliance


Exit Survey Feedback (144 Participants)• Well Done Aspects

▫ “The field test was set up really well. It was helpful to be able test every aspect of the Blackboard and address any issues as they came up.”

▫ “The section with the training videos were extremely helpful because they illustrated each part of the blackboard as opposed to having to read it.”

• Areas for Improvement▫ “My personal observation was that there should have been some practical demonstrations, for

instance, how the discussion board is used.”▫ “I had some difficulty hearing the narrator's voice even though my volume was turned all the way up.”▫ “Maybe the videos can be incorporated into the field test so you can actually do the activity after it

being described to you.”

• General▫ “This is the first time I will be taking an online course. I really appreciate the tutorial, and I think it will

allow me to navigate Blackboard much more easily than I would have been able to if I had not had the tutorial. Thanks!”

▫ “The tutorial was very useful to gain an overview and to check and update my computer for optimal performance. The videos and pdfs will be useful to refer back to if or when I have questions once I begin my classes”

▫ “Make it available immediately upon registration.”

Orientation DemoRowan University CGCE

•CGCE Student Blackboard Tutorial – CGCE Blackboard System


http://rowan.blackboard.com/

Q and A


Thank you for attending our session!

Special thanks to the following Stockton College staff and students:

•Dr. Debra Dagavarian, Assistant Provost•Dan Gambert, Orientation Web designer • Actors: Robert Brandhorst, Lauren

Jackson, Aileen Zocolla• Stockton Video Productions


orientation modules for online education: guiding learners to success in online courses at the...

Documents

online learning

online environment

nature of online education

basics of online etiquette

distance learning

distance education courses

distance education holtzman

student orientation