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Using E-Learning Technology to Connect with Students. Elizabeth A. Price Student Success Planning Services Sinclair Community College CODE: 271. Sinclair Community College. An urban community college of 22,000 students in Dayton, Ohio.
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Using E-Learning Technology to Connect with Students Elizabeth A. PriceStudent Success Planning Services Sinclair Community College CODE: 271
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.
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.
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
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.
Overview • Role of E-learning Systems in Advising • Communication tool • Resource site • Data system • 5-Cs of Implementation • Pros and Cons • Results
The Role of E-Learning Technology in the Advising Process • Communication Tool • Resource Site • Data System
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
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
Change Layout to Day, Week, Month or Year Export to portable electronic device
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.
Appears on the main portal without student going to the community site
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.
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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.
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.
The 5-Cs of Implementation • Contact • Collaborate • Create • Collect • Correct
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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