Using E-Learning Technology to Connect with Students

1. Using E-Learning Technology to Connect with Students Elizabeth A. PriceStudent Success Planning Services Sinclair Community College CODE: 271

2. Sinclair Community College • An urban community college of 22,000 students in Dayton, Ohio. • Founded in connection with the YMCA, Sinclair has 2 additional campuses at local YMCAs and a regional campus located in Mason, Ohio. • Vanguard Learning College by the League for Innovation in the Community College • “Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count” college.

3. What is E-Learning Technology? • A virtual learning environment (VLE) where a software system is utilized to support teaching and learning. • Originally created for distance education, VLEs are now most often used to supplement in-class learning, commonly known as a Blended Learning Classroom.

4. Similar Brands of E-Learning • Angel (Sinclair’s choice) • Blackboard • WebCT(now owned by Blackboard) • Desire2Learn • Moodle • SITOS • Claroline • Scholar360 • eFront • Apex Learning • eCollege • ILIAS • StudEous • Saba

5. Sinclair’s Use • Designed to promote the success of at-risk students in the SSP (ILP) program • From the main portal, students are automatically linked to the Angel® (e-learning software) site. • Most classes have sites on Angel®. • Student use is high: registration, grades, email, class sites, financial aid file etc... • Implemented October, 2007.

6. Overview • Role of E-learning Systems in Advising • Communication tool • Resource site • Data system • 5-Cs of Implementation • Pros and Cons • Results

7. The Role of E-Learning Technology in the Advising Process • Communication Tool • Resource Site • Data System

8. Communication Tool Perhaps the most useful aspect of E-learning technology in the advising process is its ability to connect and communicate with students in many different ways. • Calendar • Announcements • Email • Newsletter • Surveys • Forums/Bulletins/Posts

9. Communication 1 Calendar • Provides an overview of important dates • Notifies the student on the day • Can give details about the event • Student can download to portable electronic device

10. Change Layout to Day, Week, Month or Year Export to portable electronic device

11. Appears on the community home site

12. Calendar also appears on the main portal

13. Communication 2 Announcements • Provide instant information posted to the main portal and community site. • Less intrusive than email. • Great for targeting students who do not read email – passive, no effort on the student’s part.

14. Appears on the main portal without student going to the community site

15. Communication 3 Email • Sends email to all students in the system or groups of students (for example, students with certain majors). • Tracks who has read the message. • Can send email to the college/university email account as well. • Protects the identity of recipients.

16. To determine who read the email and when

17. Al-Haik, Marwan Artz, Dana Back, Kristie Back, Travis Barga, Wanda Sue Boyd, Pamela Burton, Audrey Chaney, Cameron Culver, Terry Desch, Glenda Graham, Christy Kepler, Matthew Kepler, Melissa Lopez, Arturo Matheny, Donna Mullins, Lilia Mae Price, Franklin Price, Roger Robinson, Brenda Shoemaker, Sarah Sinclair, Angela Simpson, Margret

18. Resources/Tools • Documents, files, or links can be added to the site for student use. • Easier to update than a website. • Protects information from outsiders. • Can restrict access to certain groups or individuals within the community.

20. Collecting Data • Many brands of e-learning technology have ways to collect data. • Angel® shows total counts, frequency of individual student use, log-in times, areas visited.

22. Al-Haik, Marwan Artz, Dana Back, Kristie Back, Travis Barga, Wanda Sue Boyd, Pamela Burton, Audrey Chaney, Cameron Culver, Terry Desch, Glenda Graham, Christy Kepler, Melissa Lopez, Arturo Matheny, Donna Mullins, Lilia Mae Price, Franklin

23. The 5-Cs of Implementation • Contact • Collaborate • Create • Collect • Correct

24. 1-C Contact • Contact IT to determine if it is possible. • Typically there is a person in charge of the e-learning software who can get you started.

25. 2-C Collaborate • Collaborate with colleagues, faculty, students, student workers, etc…. • The same questions I provided might be useful. • Get student employees/volunteers to help if you are unfamiliar with the e-learning software. *Good for building experience.

26. 3-C Create • Create the site. You may need training to learn the basics. • Decide on the theme/focus of your site. What will the purpose be? • Layout: what will you include? • Linking your site to other department’s websites lessens the updating work load.

27. 4-C Collect • Determine what information is required to load students on the site. • Collect the information needed and load every student • I “mass-loaded” all 2,500+ students at one time. IT can tell you if that is possible.

28. 5-C Correct • Correct the student list by adding and deleting students • Correct information: especially dates. Linking to other campus sites is a way around this. • Add and delete content: links, calendar info, announcements etc…

29. Pros: • Students are informed.  Even if they don’t click on our site, announcements and calendar dates appear automatically on their main portal page. • One place for info. In the past, this information was on many different sites or not anywhere.  • On their turf. Many are using this technology already – it’s in the student culture. • A connection to our office.  Instead of sitting on their questions, they ask via email. It’s less intrusive. Also, the site shows they have an office/advisor supporting them.

30. Cons: • Lots of work and time. It takes quite a bit of energy creating a useful site with links, content information, updated calendar, and announcements.  • Never ending process. The site needs to be updated regularly.  • Emails and announcements. There are also many emails that students send through the community group that must be addressed.  • Point Person. Identify someone who has time and is willing to create, manage, and update the site.

31. Data for Winter Quarter 1st Full Quarter • 3050 registered users as of 3/21/2007 • 4932 total student hits • 6 mass emails • 28 emails from students • 12 announcements • 1519 unique student hits on the “content” section. • 6750 total student hits on “content” • Numerous viewings of announcements and calendar without logging on to the site: not traceable.

32. Part of SSP/ILP Programs for at-risk students

33. Questions? Sinclair Community CollegeStudent Success Planning Services444 West Third StreetDayton, Ohio 45402-1460 Elizabeth A. Price, M.S.Ed. Post-Transition ILP & Early Alert Coordinator Phone: (937) 512-2449 Fax: (937) 512-2392 elizabeth.price@sinclair.edu *Information on the nationally recognized program for at-risk students at Sinclair Community College can be found at www.sinclair.edu/support/success