orientating students to learning online: why the emphasis on learning matters
Post on 20-May-2015
479 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
ORIENTING STUDENTS TO LEARNING ONLINE:
WHY THE EMPHASIS UPON LEARNING MATTERS
Ghazala Hashmi, PhD
Coordinator, Quality Enhancement Plan
Meg Foster, MA
Assistant Coordinator, Quality Enhancement Plan
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Richmond, Virginia
SmarterServices Summer Webinar Series July 24, 2013
Overview of the Session• Identifying the attributes vital for effective learning within the
21st century
• Broadening our concepts of “College Ready” within these new and emerging contexts of higher education
• Expanding our institutional approaches to student preparation with concepts built upon targeted assessments
• Implementing these findings directly within support resources for students and faculty
• Proposing some next steps
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 2
Goals of the Session
To evaluate the ways in which student readiness must include – for all students – some degree of readiness for the new digital literacies of this century
To share one institution’s efforts in the area of improving student success within online learning
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 3
Background: JSRCC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)
Success in Distance Learning
Student Readiness
Student Orientation
Faculty Training
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 4
A Traditional, Operational Definition of “College Ready”
The level of preparation a student needs in order to enroll and succeed
—without remediation—in a credit-bearing, general education course at
a postsecondary institution that offers a baccalaureate degree or transfer
to a baccalaureate program.
“Succeed” is defined as completing entry level courses at a level of
understanding and proficiency that makes it possible for the student to
consider taking the next course in the sequence or the next level of
course in the subject area.
– David Conley
“Toward a Comprehensive View of College Readiness” (2007)
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 5
An Initial Definition of Readiness for Online Learning
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 6
Access to Technology
Technical Competency
Ability to Manipulate and Manage Digital Environments
Most institutions began with the traditional concept of COLLEGE READY and then predicated “student readiness for online learning” upon essentially three additional factors:
What most institutions anticipated . . .
College Ready
Technology Skills
Success in Online
Learning
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 7
The realities we faced . . .
Online courses are too often characterized by• Low persistence rates• Fewer successful students
Broader student and institutional impacts • Delays in college completion• Student attrition from courses or from college
altogether• Increase in college costs for students• Broader implications within the “time to degree” costs• Faculty engagement and preparation for online
instruction
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 8
National Online Enrollments, as a Percentage of Total Enrollments, Continues to Increase
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 9
“Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States,”
Babson Survey Research Group (2013)
The annual increase in the numbers of students taking at least one online course has not yet plateaued
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
0 2,000,000 4,000,000 6,000,000 8,000,000
Increase Over Previous YearStudents Taking at Least 1 Online Course
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 10
“Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States,”
Babson Survey Research Group (2013)
JSRCC Data for Online Enrollments (2011-2012) Reflects National Trends
Downtown Suburban Rural Online0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
35000
40000
EnrollmentsHeadcount
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 11
Online Enrollments Impacted Community Colleges Earlier and in Greater Numbers
According to a 2003 National Center for Education Statistics report, the largest share of distance education enrollments (48%) was in community colleges.
Community Colleges, in particular, have had to respond sooner and more deliberately to student demand for online learning opportunities
Even in the midst of the recession, distance education enrollments in community colleges increased 22%, up from 11% the previous year. (Miller, 2010)
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 12
As educators, what should our responses be?
• Slow down the expansions of online learning?
• Divide student populations into categories for these different learning contexts, or create gatekeeping policies for student enrollment within online courses?
• Develop our understanding of and approaches to an adequate, appropriate preparation of all students for the new learning and teaching environments that we now face?
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 13
Expanding the Essential Definitions of “College Ready” to Embrace Readiness for Online Learning
In the contemporary higher education environment,
academic success for ALL students is frequently predicated
upon the critical skills that are necessary for success within
digital learning environments.
Even students who never set a “virtual foot” within the
digital landscape are still called upon to navigate through
digital learning. In reality, increasing numbers of students are
completing some – if not most – of their academic work
online.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 14
What are we doing to prepare and support our increasing numbers of online learners?
Online learning calls upon sets of skills that are often not
factored into the traditional evaluations of “college ready”:
• Discipline for independent learning
• Ability to navigate new and complex digital
environments
• Personal attributes that support and sustain
academic efforts
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 15
Essential Literacies of the 21st Century
Our very language itself is challenged as it attempts to keep apace
with the evolving dimensions of the materials and the information with
which we interact, and that we try to interpret and integrate into our
lives:
• New Media Literacy
• Information Literacy
• Digital Literacy
• Technology Literacies
These literacies are essential for all of our learners – not just our
online learners
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 16
The example of Virginia’s recent legislative responses highlights the essential reality of redefining “College Ready”
In April 2012, Governor Bob McDonnell signed into law a bill requiring Virginia high school students to complete at least one virtual course to graduate with a standard or advanced diploma; the law goes into effect for the freshman class of 2013-2014. The measure’s argument suggests that students with online learning experiences are better prepared for the “job market of the 21st century.”
Other states have adopted similar measures or are evaluating the need to adopt these measures.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 17
Institutional Challenges
• How do we effectively prepare students for the new learning environments?
• How do we assess these new levels of college readiness?
• How do we orient and/or remediate for digital learning skills?
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 18
Poll Question
What types of orientation activities are your institutions providing for online learners?
Self-directed ModulesFacilitated, Online SessionsFace-to-Face Orientations to TechnologyNo Distinct Orientations for Online LearnersOther
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 19
Comevo online orientation software (comevo.com)
• Meet students where they are• Online convenience• Engaging content
• Student Success Tool• Access to content• Quiz, Test, Portal• Useful campus-wide
APPLICATIONS WITHIN ONE VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE INSTITUTION
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 21
Measuring Students’ Preparation for Learning Online & Preparing Students to Learn OnlineTwo steps taken by J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College:
1) Integration of SmarterMeasure – a web-based assessment tool – to evaluate students’ readiness skills for online learning
2) Development and implementation of an Orientation to Learning Online module that is facilitated and delivered through Blackboard, provides essential instruction for new online students, and models the core elements of quality course design
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 22
SmarterMeasure: An Introduction
The SmarterMeasure assessment helps students determine their
readiness to succeed in an online learning environment.
Personal Attributes
Life Factors
Learning Styles
Reading Recall
Technology Competency & Knowledge
Typing Skills
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 23
SmarterMeasure Student Report
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 24
SmarterMeasure and its Results for JSRCC Students
Assessments of SmarterMeasure data helped the institution to identify two central areas of weakness among its student population:
Life Factors: Availability of Time, Place, Reason, Resources & Skills
Personal Attributes: Time Management, Personal Responsibility, Willingness to Seek Assistance
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 25
have about a 56% chance of succeeding in Distance Learning classes.
Conversely, students who do not struggle with “Life Factors” or who display high scores within Personal Attributes,
have about a 75% chance of succeeding in Distance Learning classes
SmarterMeasure Findings
Students who struggle with “Life Factors” or who display low scores within the Personal Attributes assessment,
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 26
What SmarterMeasure Emphasizes for JSRCC Students
Non-cognitive skills are the essential ingredients for student success:
Personal Attributes
• study skills• metacognitive strategies• self-regulated learning• time management• goal-setting
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 27
In addition to Personal
Attributes, the ability to
manage LIFE FACTORS
has a significant positive
effect upon student success
and persistence.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 28
BUILDING UPON SMARTERMEASURE ASSESSMENTS TOCREATE A SOLID ORIENTATION TO LEARNING ONLINESummer 2011 to the Present
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 29
Development of
CDL 001: Orientation to Learning Online
Evaluated SmarterMeasure findings and other college assessments
Created a team to develop the orientation. Team was comprised of
volunteers who connected three vital areas: Academic Affairs,
Student Affairs, and Information Technology.
Critical to success was including faculty and staff who brought their
expertise/perspective as online teachers and students.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 30
CDL 001: An Overview• The orientation session takes approximately 4-6 total hours to
complete.
• It simulates the experience of being in an actual online class.
• The session is facilitated by trained faculty/staff member.
• It is housed in Blackboard.
• Six Learning Units, with activities, are designed to be completed within 4 to 5 days
• Assignments include 3 discussion board posts, 3 quizzes, 1 library research assignment, and a final self-reflection essay.
• Students also complete SmarterMeasure and submit their individual report to the facilitator.
• An exit survey captures students’ responses to the Orientation.
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 31
The Learning Units of CDL001
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 32
Success and Persistence Rates of CDL001 Completers
Summer 2011 – Fall 2012 completers and their Success Rates in Online Learning:
1123 students registered to take CDL 001
These students have enrolled in 4592 distance courses between Fall 2011 and Fall 2012.
Persistence rate: 93.7% for CDL Completers vs. 87.9% for Non-Completers
Successful completion (A,B, or C) rate: 83% for CDL Completers vs. 69% for Non-Completers
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 33
Poll Question
If your institution has also integrated SmarterMeasure for
its students, how are the assessment results being used?
To advise students considering online coursesAs an assignment within certain coursesFor placement approval in online classesAs a self-assessment for studentsOtherMy institution is not using SmarterMeasure
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 34
Proposals for Next Steps
Partnerships between secondary and post-secondary institutions to develop support and orientation activities for online learning
Increased training of faculty and teachers to meet the growing needs for both online learning and the new demands of emerging literacy expectations
Direct applications of assessment results towards the creation of products that effectively support and prepare students for the challenges of accessing information and learning in the digital landscapes
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 35
ReferencesBabson Survey Research Group. (2013). Changing course: ten years of
tracking online education in the United States. Retrieved from http://www.onlinelearningsurvey.com/reports/changingcourse.pdf
Conley, David T. (2007) Toward a comprehensive view of college readiness. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from www.nebhe.org/wp-content/uploads/Conley.ppt
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 36
Thank you for your participation
Ghazala Hashmi
ghashmi@reynolds.edu
Meg Foster
mbfoster@reynolds.edu
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College | Richmond, Virginia
804.523.5515
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College 37
top related