Virtual Orientation: Personalized Communities with Market Appeal Marcus P. Robinson Brian A. Young Educause 2001 Indianapolis, Indiana.

Virtual Orientation: Personalized Communities with Market Appeal

Marcus P. RobinsonBrian A. Young

Educause 2001

Indianapolis, Indiana

VO: a Beginning Utilize technology to support and enhance

community building and connected learning within the learning-living environment

Facilitate and enrich student transition to college life

Highly personalized, dynamic, interactive on-line educational and social orientation

VO: Three Years Young 1999: on-line course selection for incoming

students created

2000: Math Placement Exam added, Virtual Room created

2001: current Virtual Orientation realized Announcements, FAQs, parent’s section Expanded academic resource information Language Placement Exams Personal profiles w/ messaging/chat capabilities Student services w/ interactive chats hosted by UD

officials “Targeted” bookstore interface Customizable personal space Academic orientation to Humanities Base curriculum

Virtual Orientation

robinsmp

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With one quick log-in, the student receives personalized, targeted content

Virtual Orientation

Points of Pride >

Virtual Orientation

< UD Headlines

Virtual Orientation

University-wide, division, major, and interest specific announcements

Click to save content for future reference >

Virtual Orientation

Virtual Orientation

Questions, answers, and more questions; with sorting based on student usage and interest

Virtual Orientation

Submit a new question here

Virtual Orientation

Descriptions, 1st semester options, all available courses, faculty, and more

Virtual Orientation

In-depth descriptions of major course of study >

Virtual Orientation

Detailed summary of 1st semester options >

Virtual Orientation

All courses by major course of study >

Virtual Orientation

A resource designed to address the concerns and questions of parents of incoming students

Virtual Orientation

An on-line academic portfolio including student schedules, computer specs., and advisor info.

Virtual Orientation

Virtual Orientation

Campus resources includes information on all student service offices indexed by building

Virtual Orientation

No more long lines at the bookstore with on-line book purchase; based on student schedule

Virtual Orientation

A customizable section with surveys, calendars, and more; the @UD Personal Space

Virtual Orientation

Important dates and events >

Saved content >

Virtual Orientation

Virtual Orientation

Add a personal profile >

Virtual Orientation

Virtual Room: live chats, move-in checklists, search capabilities, area business info., and much more

Virtual Orientation

See actual room, and meet roommate(s) >

Virtual Orientation

VO: by the Numbers Site life-span: 20 weeks User population: ~1,750 99% of all incoming students logged-in ~4,000 log-ins/week; top 10 users: ~17

log-ins/week ~22 minutes/log-in 1,344 profiles posted; ~76.8% ~17,000 messages exchanged between students;

~9,600 chat sessions launched*

96.2% Windows; 2.7% Mac 92% IE; 7.2% Netscape

*reported over 8-week period

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VO: the Big Picture

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VO: the Big Picture

Initial mailing sent: 897 deposited students

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VO: the Big Picture

Course Selection and Placement Exams available

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VO: the Big Picture

Targeted E-mails begin with site hooks

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VO: the Big Picture

Deposit deadline

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VO: the Big Picture

Campus Resources section available

Weeks 7 - 9

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VO: the Big Picture

Continued Targeted E-mails with site hooks

Weeks 7 - 9

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VO: the Big Picture

Course Schedules available

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VO: the Big Picture

Anticipation builds for Virtual Room; graduation

Weeks 11 & 12

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VO: the Big Picture

Virtual Room, Bookstore Express available

Week 13

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VO: the Big Picture

Usage levels out

Weeks 14 & 15

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VO: the Big Picture

On-campus Orientation materials available

Week 16

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VO: the Big Picture

Final Targeted E-mails w/ last minute information

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VO: the Big Picture

Log-ins compared with student messages sent

VO: Lessons Learned,Challenges Faced, and the Rest of the Story Enterprise-wide collaboration and buy-in is most essential

success, and most challenging to achieve Content management will make or break you Personalization makes the difference Exercise constraint, and realize limitations (most likely not

technological) Always consider the audience and the hook Sustain, sustain, sustain Quality control must be a high priority, with constant

monitoring and evaluation Collect and analyze usage statistics and data continuously

to anticipate problems and identify trends Be prepared for the unexpected Once you start, it won’t stop Done well, this can be a market differentiator

VO: Encouraging Recognition

VO: Thank You Marcus P. Robinson

University of [email protected]

Brian A. YoungHobart and William Smith [email protected]

Copyright Marcus P. Robinson, 2001. This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.