presentation is the intellectual property of landon k. pirius creating a sense of community: online...

Presentation is the intellectual property of Landon K. Pirius

Creating a Sense of Creating a Sense of Community: Online Community: Online

Student Unions, Student Unions, Chats, Discussion Chats, Discussion

BoardsBoardsPresenter:Presenter:

Landon K. PiriusLandon K. PiriusDirector of Enrollment Director of Enrollment

Services/RegistrarServices/RegistrarInver Hills Community CollegeInver Hills Community College


The PresenterThe Presenter


Questions from Last Questions from Last WeekWeek

• What do you do to promote a sense What do you do to promote a sense of community both online and on-of community both online and on-campus?campus?

• Do your students feel a connection Do your students feel a connection to your institution and to others at to your institution and to others at your institution?your institution?

• Other burning questions from last Other burning questions from last week.week.


IntroductionIntroduction

• Developed from multiple Developed from multiple perspectivesperspectives– UofM studentUofM student– Former online university employeeFormer online university employee– MnOnline Peer ReviewerMnOnline Peer Reviewer– MSU, Mankato Distance Learning MSU, Mankato Distance Learning

Taskforce MemberTaskforce Member– Proponent of technologyProponent of technology

• Not institution specificNot institution specific


Presentation LayoutPresentation Layout

• Broad discussion of community Broad discussion of community buildingbuilding

• Includes web linksIncludes web links• Includes:Includes:

– Bringing the campus to the studentBringing the campus to the student– Innovate tools to promote communityInnovate tools to promote community– AccessibilityAccessibility– Commonly asked questionsCommonly asked questions


Understanding Your Understanding Your StudentsStudents

• Institutions must understand who Institutions must understand who their students are in order to their students are in order to provide appropriate services.provide appropriate services.– Digital Native vs. Digital ImmigrantsDigital Native vs. Digital Immigrants– Traditional vs. Non-Traditional StudentsTraditional vs. Non-Traditional Students– Generations X, Y, and Z vs. Baby Generations X, Y, and Z vs. Baby

Boomers and the Silent GenerationBoomers and the Silent Generation


Digital Native vs. Digital Digital Native vs. Digital ImmigrantImmigrant

• Use of computers, the Internet, and advanced Use of computers, the Internet, and advanced technologytechnology

• According to the Pew Internet and American Life According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project (2005), “The number of teenagers using Project (2005), “The number of teenagers using the internet has grown 24% in the past four years the internet has grown 24% in the past four years and 87% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 and 87% of those between the ages of 12 and 17 are online. Compared to four years ago, teens’ use are online. Compared to four years ago, teens’ use of the internet has intensified and broadened as of the internet has intensified and broadened as they log on more often and do more things when they log on more often and do more things when they are online. Among other things, there has they are online. Among other things, there has been significant growth over the past four years in been significant growth over the past four years in the number of teens who play games on the the number of teens who play games on the internet, get news, shop online, and get health internet, get news, shop online, and get health information.” information.”


Traditional vs. Non-Traditional vs. Non-TraditionalTraditional

• Traditional students (18-24) are becoming Traditional students (18-24) are becoming non-traditionalnon-traditional

• Non-traditional students can be defined as:Non-traditional students can be defined as:– Over 25Over 25– Mid-careerMid-career– Ethnically diverseEthnically diverse– Having familiesHaving families– Possessing less free timePossessing less free time

• More non-traditional students are seeking More non-traditional students are seeking an education that fits their needs and their an education that fits their needs and their schedules versus having to adapt to the schedules versus having to adapt to the institution’s needs or schedulesinstitution’s needs or schedules


Generations X, Y, and Generations X, Y, and soon Zsoon Z

• Email is essential form of communicationEmail is essential form of communication• Internet is about choice: it is what they Internet is about choice: it is what they

want, when they want itwant, when they want it• Interaction is essentialInteraction is essential• Need attractive, hip, and well-designed Need attractive, hip, and well-designed

websiteswebsites– http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/– http://www.yahoo.com/http://www.yahoo.com/

• How will we handle a generation taught How will we handle a generation taught by computers and artificial intelligence?by computers and artificial intelligence?


The New EnvironmentThe New Environment

• The student population is more mixed The student population is more mixed now than ever before. now than ever before. – Digital natives mix with digital immigrantsDigital natives mix with digital immigrants– Generations X and Y mingle with baby Generations X and Y mingle with baby

boomers and their parentsboomers and their parents– Traditional students coexist with non-Traditional students coexist with non-

traditional studentstraditional students

• What does this mean for institutions?What does this mean for institutions?


What Does this Mean for What Does this Mean for You?You?

• A single approach to administering A single approach to administering services is no longer viable or services is no longer viable or appropriateappropriate

• Increased demand for accessible Increased demand for accessible services.services.

• Increasing competition from other Increasing competition from other institutions, particularly online institutions, particularly online institutions.institutions.


Keep in MindKeep in Mind

• Always keep the student in mindAlways keep the student in mind• Our obligation.Our obligation.


Question Break #1Question Break #1

• I will take 5 minutes to answer I will take 5 minutes to answer questions at this point. I will have questions at this point. I will have breaks throughout the presentation breaks throughout the presentation and at the end of the presentation.and at the end of the presentation.


Do You Fit In?Do You Fit In?

• What would make you feel What would make you feel comfortable?comfortable?– Personal contact?Personal contact?– Physical presence?Physical presence?– Auditory cues?Auditory cues?– Body language?Body language?– Verbal discussion?Verbal discussion?

• None of this is present in a virtual, None of this is present in a virtual, text-based environment!!text-based environment!!


Creating a Sense of Creating a Sense of Community (SoC) Community (SoC)

IntroductionIntroduction• According to WCET, it is essential that “The According to WCET, it is essential that “The

institution recognizes that a sense of institution recognizes that a sense of community is important to the success of community is important to the success of many students, and that an ongoing, long-many students, and that an ongoing, long-term relationship is beneficial to both student term relationship is beneficial to both student and institution.”and institution.”

• Schools spend thousands or millions a year: Schools spend thousands or millions a year: on-campuson-campus

• Schools spend little to nothing: onlineSchools spend little to nothing: online• Invest in online community=success in Invest in online community=success in

recruitment and retentionrecruitment and retention• No investment in online community=failure No investment in online community=failure

and loss of students to competitorsand loss of students to competitors


Do We Need an Online Do We Need an Online SoC?SoC?

• In short, yes.In short, yes.• In the academic year, 2000-2001, over 3 In the academic year, 2000-2001, over 3

million students at 2- and 4-year institutions million students at 2- and 4-year institutions participated in online courses. 48% of these participated in online courses. 48% of these students studied at 2-year public institutions; students studied at 2-year public institutions; 31% studied at 4-year public institutions; and 31% studied at 4-year public institutions; and 19% studied at 4-year private institutions. 19% studied at 4-year private institutions.

• The lines of distinction are blurring because The lines of distinction are blurring because both online AND on-campus students are both online AND on-campus students are online.online.


SoC Basic ConceptsSoC Basic Concepts

• Minimize isolation=increased retention and Minimize isolation=increased retention and satisfactionsatisfaction

• Formal learning is not the only way students Formal learning is not the only way students learn.learn.– InteractionsInteractions– Informal and non-formalInformal and non-formal

• Face-to-face and online differencesFace-to-face and online differences– In a face-to-face environment, there are many In a face-to-face environment, there are many

opportunities to connect.opportunities to connect.– In a face-to-face environment, there is sight (body In a face-to-face environment, there is sight (body

language), sound (words), touch, and taste.language), sound (words), touch, and taste.– In an online environment, there is no physical In an online environment, there is no physical

connection (yet); everything is virtual.connection (yet); everything is virtual.


Getting Started: Bring the Getting Started: Bring the Campus to the Students Campus to the Students

• Provide informational materials and Provide informational materials and newsletters onlinenewsletters online

• Provide all on-campus services onlineProvide all on-campus services online• Pictures and biographies of faculty Pictures and biographies of faculty

and staffand staff• Student government/online electionsStudent government/online elections• Email as the official means of Email as the official means of

communicationcommunication


Getting Started: Bring the Getting Started: Bring the Campus to the Students Campus to the Students

Cont.Cont.• Chat rooms, weblogs (blogs), and Chat rooms, weblogs (blogs), and

discussion boardsdiscussion boards– http://http://

www.ctl.mnscu.edu/iteach/interactive/index.htwww.ctl.mnscu.edu/iteach/interactive/index.htmlml

• CommencementCommencement• Web castsWeb casts

– Sporting eventsSporting events– PresentationsPresentations– SpeakersSpeakers

• Clubs and support groupsClubs and support groups


Innovative StrategiesInnovative Strategies

• Online student unionsOnline student unions• ““Facebook”Facebook”• PortfoliosPortfolios• PortalsPortals• Virtual worldVirtual world


Online Student UnionsOnline Student Unions

• Student run, administrator oversightStudent run, administrator oversight• Best examples are in the UKBest examples are in the UK• Include:Include:

– Discussion boards, chat rooms, and blogsDiscussion boards, chat rooms, and blogs– Online electionsOnline elections– Event newsEvent news– PicturesPictures– Items for sale (including textbooks)Items for sale (including textbooks)– Weather, news, sportsWeather, news, sports– Entertainment (bars, clubs, etc)Entertainment (bars, clubs, etc)


Online Student Unions Online Student Unions Cont.Cont.

• Good online student unionsGood online student unions– http://www.susu.org/http://www.susu.org/– http://www.upsu.net/http://www.upsu.net/– http://http://www.uclu.orgwww.uclu.org//


Online Student Unions Online Student Unions Cont.Cont.

• Others sites to visit:Others sites to visit:– http://http://www.ausu.orgwww.ausu.org//– http://http://www.citsu.iewww.citsu.ie//– http://http://www.udsu.co.ukwww.udsu.co.uk



• I will answer questions for I will answer questions for approximately 5 minutes.approximately 5 minutes.


FacebookFacebook

• Founded in 2004Founded in 2004• Facebook connects people to social Facebook connects people to social

networks at colleges and universitiesnetworks at colleges and universities• A new version was recently released for A new version was recently released for

high schoolshigh schools• Anyone with a school email address can Anyone with a school email address can

joinjoin• Extensive social web:Extensive social web:

– You can be friends with anyone, anywhereYou can be friends with anyone, anywhere


Facebook Cont.Facebook Cont.

• Incredibly addictingIncredibly addicting– ““Yes, it has its perks. You can join groups, Yes, it has its perks. You can join groups,

advertise parties and connect with people advertise parties and connect with people from class. But students constantly find from class. But students constantly find themselves pausing in the middle of themselves pausing in the middle of homework and refreshing their home page homework and refreshing their home page on Facebook just to see if they have pending on Facebook just to see if they have pending group or friend confirmations, pokes or group or friend confirmations, pokes or notes”notes”

• There are some potential drawbacks to There are some potential drawbacks to FacebookFacebook

• http://http://www.facebook.comwww.facebook.com//


PortfoliosPortfolios

• Student centered toolsStudent centered tools• Ties the student to the institution because Ties the student to the institution because

it shows a history and profile of that it shows a history and profile of that student at your institutionstudent at your institution

• Being used in higher education as well as Being used in higher education as well as K-12K-12

• Information follows the student, so a Information follows the student, so a student could present part or all of their student could present part or all of their K-12 portfolio as part of their college K-12 portfolio as part of their college application.application.


Portfolios Cont.Portfolios Cont.

• Can include:Can include:– Collection of student academic workCollection of student academic work

• For storageFor storage• For sharingFor sharing• For assessmentFor assessment

– PicturesPictures– Data filesData files– Personal informationPersonal information– Links to important services and functionsLinks to important services and functions


Portfolios Cont.Portfolios Cont.

• Can be used by:Can be used by:– StudentsStudents– FacultyFaculty– Life-long learnersLife-long learners

• Sample portfoliosSample portfolios– https://wesep.wesleyan.edu/cgi-perl/session.cghttps://wesep.wesleyan.edu/cgi-perl/session.cg

ii (student) (student)

– http://www.ags.uci.edu/~cfaustin/http://www.ags.uci.edu/~cfaustin/ (faculty) (faculty)– https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp

(student)(student)


PortalsPortals

• Portals can be the same or different Portals can be the same or different from portfolios and unions. from portfolios and unions.

• A portal is a gateway.A portal is a gateway.• Single password entry.Single password entry.• Allows students to access anything Allows students to access anything

and everything once logged in.and everything once logged in.


Portals Cont.Portals Cont.

• Good examples of portalsGood examples of portals– https://www.myu.umn.edu/metadot/https://www.myu.umn.edu/metadot/

index.plindex.pl– http://my.wisc.edu/portal/index.jsphttp://my.wisc.edu/portal/index.jsp– https://my.nottingham.ac.uk/media/uk/https://my.nottingham.ac.uk/media/uk/

ac/nottingham/compass/layout/public/ac/nottingham/compass/layout/public/help_guestlogins.jsphelp_guestlogins.jsp


Portals Cont.Portals Cont.

• Other sites to visit:Other sites to visit:– https://portal.mnsu.edu/Default.aspxhttps://portal.mnsu.edu/Default.aspx– http://my.gwu.edu/http://my.gwu.edu/



• I will answer questions for I will answer questions for approximately 5 minutes.approximately 5 minutes.


Virtual WorldsVirtual Worlds

• A virtual world is a world that exists A virtual world is a world that exists entirely online.entirely online.

• The virtual avatar (user) interacts The virtual avatar (user) interacts with other virtual avatars and the with other virtual avatars and the virtual world.virtual world.

• Is this the future of colleges and Is this the future of colleges and universities?universities?

• ““Flow”-Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiFlow”-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi


Virtual Worlds Cont.Virtual Worlds Cont.

• MMORPG’sMMORPG’s– Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing GameMassively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game– Virtual worlds within MMORPG’s already create Virtual worlds within MMORPG’s already create

a sense of community.a sense of community.– The most popular MMORPG (Everquest) has The most popular MMORPG (Everquest) has

tens of thousands of people interacting within a tens of thousands of people interacting within a virtual world at any given point.virtual world at any given point.

– Everquest’s virtual world (Norath) is the 77Everquest’s virtual world (Norath) is the 77thth richest country in the “real” world. The average richest country in the “real” world. The average hourly wage is $3.42 and the GDP is $135 hourly wage is $3.42 and the GDP is $135 million (equal to that of Bulgaria).million (equal to that of Bulgaria).


Virtual Worlds Cont.Virtual Worlds Cont.

• Why do I mention MMORPG’s?Why do I mention MMORPG’s?– An educational MMORPG could be An educational MMORPG could be

created in which students learn, interact, created in which students learn, interact, and feel part of the college/university.and feel part of the college/university.

• Sample MMORPGsSample MMORPGs– http://secondlife.com/http://secondlife.com/– http://eqlive.station.sony.com/http://eqlive.station.sony.com/– http://www.eagames.com/official/http://www.eagames.com/official/

thesims/thesimsonline/us/nai/index.jspthesims/thesimsonline/us/nai/index.jsp


Are Your Services Are Your Services AccessibleAccessible

• Who is using your services?Who is using your services?• Who is NOT using your services and Who is NOT using your services and

why?why?• Americans with Disabilities Act Americans with Disabilities Act

(ADA)(ADA)– ADA compliant websiteADA compliant website

• http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/• http://http://

bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsbobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jspp


Questions to Ask Questions to Ask YourselfYourself

• What strategies and practices are What strategies and practices are implemented by my institution to implemented by my institution to involve distant students as part of involve distant students as part of an academic community?an academic community?

• By their statements and actions, do By their statements and actions, do our administrators and participating our administrators and participating faculty members communicate a faculty members communicate a belief that a sense of academic belief that a sense of academic community is important?community is important?


Questions to Ask Questions to Ask Yourself Cont.Yourself Cont.

• How are the learning needs of How are the learning needs of students enrolled in electronically students enrolled in electronically offered programs identified, offered programs identified, addressed, and linked to educational addressed, and linked to educational objectives and learning outcomes, objectives and learning outcomes, particularly within the context of my particularly within the context of my institution’s definition of itself as a institution’s definition of itself as a learning community?learning community?

• Do representative students feel that Do representative students feel that they are part of a community, or that they are part of a community, or that they are entirely on their own?they are entirely on their own?


ResourcesResources

• Western Cooperative for Educational Western Cooperative for Educational Telecommunications (WCET)Telecommunications (WCET)– http://http://www.wcet.infowww.wcet.info//– http://http://

www.wcet.info/resources/publicationwww.wcet.info/resources/publications/guide/guide.htms/guide/guide.htm

• Center for Transforming Student Center for Transforming Student ServicesServices– http://http://www.centss.orgwww.centss.org

• Other web sources as listed throughout Other web sources as listed throughout the presentationthe presentation


Questions?Questions?

• The remainder of the time will be The remainder of the time will be spent answering questions.spent answering questions.

• Any remaining questions will be Any remaining questions will be answered within a week of this answered within a week of this presentation.presentation.


Session 3: Online Session 3: Online OrientationOrientation

• November 17November 17• What is an online orientation?What is an online orientation?• Types of online orientations:Types of online orientations:

– 4 types4 types– Examples of all 4 typesExamples of all 4 types


Session 3: Online Session 3: Online OrientationOrientation

• Think about:Think about:– How do you currently orient your How do you currently orient your

students? Your online students?students? Your online students?– If you have an online orientation, how If you have an online orientation, how

does it compare to your on-campus does it compare to your on-campus orientation?orientation?

– Email your thoughts and any burning Email your thoughts and any burning questions to: questions to: [email protected] by [email protected] by Monday, November 14Monday, November 14thth..


Presenter InformationPresenter Information

• Landon K. PiriusLandon K. Pirius– [email protected]@inverhills.edu

presentation is the intellectual property of landon k. pirius creating a sense of community: online...

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