Online support lb

Red Flags: Ideas for Supporting New Online StudentsLaurie Brand – SIAST Learning Technologies

What problems do new online students face? How do other educational institutions assist

new online students? What resources does SIAST offer to support

new online students? Discussion and Sharing

examples, current research, problems/solutions for assisting new online students

Purpose and Objectives

Time High course workload Prejudged to be tech savvy Help/support required but may not ask or

know who to ask Frustration

What problems do new online students face? What are some of the “Red Flags”?

How do other educational institutions assist new online students?

SAIT Polytechnic

What resources does SIAST offer to support new online students?

Instructor??Contact??

email, phone, f to f

LibrariesResources

class sessions

Learning Services Other

Comp 1609Intro to BB

basic tutorials

(also in BB)

HelpDeskTechnical Support

How might SIAST improve student online support?

VC Student and Instructor Survey 2010

Methodology: Web Survey 943 respondents

(366 employees and 577 students)1. Less ITS maintenance downtime (not weekends) and

pre-warned2. Timely instructor responsiveness

3. Current information, no typos and operational hyperlinks

4. Variety of learning strategies

5. More practical problem examples and practice exams

6. Contingency plans in place when instructors are unavailable

7. Similar tuition costs for online and on campus courses

Research - SIAST

Canadian challenges in comparison to United States’ (Lokken, 2009) appeared similar... Student demand for online courses exceeds offerings Inadequate student services for distance education Over 1/3 institutions didn’t offer online counselling (responded

to survey)

Research Canadian vs. American

What were some factors suggested by research to help new online students?1. Faculty

2. Early contact

3. Students supporting students

4. Improved content and course design (e.g., relevance, navigation and engagement)

Invite discussion for best practices

Discussion and Sharing of Best Practices

Anderson, T. (2004). Practice guided by research in providing effective student support services. In J. Brindley, C. Walti & O. Zawacki-Riochter (eds.). Learner Support in Open, Distance and Online learning Environments. (pp 259-272). Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://hdl.handle.net/2149/756

Crazycardfreak. (February 05, 2008). Flunked the Nursing Program (video). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGGSFbHsKcM

eLearningToolBox.com (2001-2010). READI (Readiness for Education At a Distance Indicator). Prattville, AL: DECADE Consulting, LLC. Retrieved January 6, 2010, from http://onlinestudentreadiness.net/

Francis, David. (December 2009). Virtual campus development and delivery process review

Summary highlights of the report. Saskatoon, SK: SIAST (Saskatchewan Institute of Science and Technology). Virtual Campus. Retrieved January 6, 2010, from http://programs.siast.sk.ca/vc/review/VC_Review_Summary_Dec_2009.pdf

Fslazar. (December 20, 2008). Nursing School Video(video). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruzpMaksXdI

Lokken, F. (2009). 2008 Distance education survey results. Tracking the impact of elearning at community colleges. Instructional Technology Council. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://www.itcnetwork.org/file.php?file=%2F1%2FITCAnnualSurvey2008Results.pdf

Maryland Online, Inc. (2009). QM website http://www.qualitymatters.org/

Moore, Janet. (2008). How do you help students complete online courses? Newburyport, MA: Sloan. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://www.sloan-c.org/node/377

Onqorapparel. (April 26, 2009). Tribute to Nurses (video). Retrieved October 15, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29fdVOqraQs

Owens, Janet, Hardcastle, Lesley and Richardson, Ben. (2009). Learning from a distance: The experience of remote students. Journal of Distance Education. Vol. 23, No. 3, 53-74. AB: AU Press, Athabasca University. Retrieved January 28, 2010, from http://www.jofde.ca/index.php/jde/article/view/596/974

Robinson, Meghan. (2008). Distance learning online student orientation website. Newburyport, MA: The

SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). (2009). Learner orientation handbook. Calgary, AB: Author. Retrieved January 8, 2010, from http://citd.sait.ca/distance/student_services/documents/Learner_Orientation_Handbook.pdf

SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology). ( 2009). SAIT WebCT tutorials. Calgary, AB: Author. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://citd.sait.ca/distance/student_services/webcthelp/tutorial/studenttutorial/

Sloan Consortium, Inc. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://www.sloan-c.org/node/377

Smith Nash, Susan. (2009). E-learner survival guide (First edition). Norman, OK: Texture Press. Retrieved January 8, 2010, from http://zenzebra.net/elearner-survival-guide.pdf

University of Calgary. (2008). Blackboard student mini guide. Calgary, AB: Author. Retrieved January 8, 2010, from http://elearn.ucalgary.ca/files/elearn/BB_MiniGuide_Sep_2008.pdf

University of Calgary. (2007). Continuing education online student handbook. Calgary, AB: Author. Retrieved January 8, 2010, from http://conted.ucalgary.ca/elearn/pdf/student_handbook.pdf

WCET. (2009). Innovations in online student retention (Webcast). Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://www.wcet.info/2.0/index.php?q=OnlineStudentRetention

References