Requiring an Orientation for New Online Students

1. Requiring an Orientation for New Online Students Dr. Ed Lovitt – Director Distance Learning Johnson County Community College

2. Why Did We Need an Orientation? Over 5,000 students at JCCC currently enroll in Online courses each semester. Over 50% of all courses at JCCC use LMS Faculty at JCCC were concerned about the amount of time students were taking the first couple of weeks during the semester to become oriented to using a Learning Management System. Distance Learning Advisory Council (DLAC) requested research into solutions.

3. Research Other Schools Michael J. Robertson, Ph.D. Director of eLearning North Central Texas College mrobertson@nctc.edu http://cms.nctc.edu/eLearning_Department/ANGEL_Orientation.aspx Kona Jones Director of Online Learning Richland Community College kona@richland.edu http://www.richland.edu/online/orientation

4. Faculty Input and Feedback • JCCC Faculty helped to design course. • Liked Richland Community College design • Liked North Central Texas College Assessment Trigger • Wanted Faculty to control requirements for each course. • Wanted student to complete only once.

5. Why are you requiring the orientation in your course? I found that too many students did not know how to navigate ANGEL, and it was taking too much instructional time to teach them. Requiring the orientation simplified my life and more importantly better prepared the students to be successful in the course. Suzanne It is required so students entering EMS 131 have at least some knowledge of how to navigate Angel the first day of class. Robert I have many of non-computer students(Non-traditional) taking my course and it helps them learn the navigation of the course there for letting me concentrate on the material. Debra I want students to be prepared to take an online course, and I want them to know HOW to be prepared.  The fact that this is the same orientation for the whole college lends weight to the claims that it makes – it is not just me telling them they need to have their computer configured to do something or know how to do something, it is “the college” telling them. Brenda I have students that are struggling. As you know we have a very short time span for classes (5 week sessions) so no time to waste on a learning curve. I would like to associate it with a test prior to opening the content but I want them to have time to complete the orientation. Diana

6. Have you noticed any improvement in student readiness? I have noticed fewer late assignments at the beginning of the semester. The students understand how to submit files and have a lot less technology questions for me. Debra I have had fewer problems with students not understanding how to use Angel since I have required the orientation. Susan Students know how to navigate ANGEL, including all the non-intuitive things in ANGEL (like how to choose a recipient for an email).  This is critical for success and it is much improved since I started using the orientation.  There is enough to learn that first week with class policies and how to use the online homework package we use outside of ANGEL without trying to get them to learn how to navigate ANGEL too.  Being able to use ANGEL makes them well-prepared to get started the first week. Brenda For those that get it done before the semester begins I have seen some improvement. The biggest issue by far is student failure to recognize the discipline required to take a hybrid class. Robert

7. Student Feedback • Currently 11,750 students enrolled in Orientation • Currently 5,933 completed Orientation • Please rate your general impression of this orientation

8. What was beneficial in completing this orientation? Taken from 315 Student Responses – Fall 2012 • I thought the methods used in this orientation further clarified that online courses are a fit for me, my life style, and my way of learning. The instruction was well executed, and I am very excited to start my online courses. Thank You! • I thought the orientation was set up in a fashion that allowed for anyone to be able to follow step by step instructions and how to best utilize the system. It is also great that the orientation is set up like a regular online class and allows the user to accomplish the tasks as they have time to complete them. • I have been an online student for awhile now and I think this best explains everything that will be used as an online student. • I found it beneficial that important information was repeated in different lessons. I also found it convenient that there was a mix of videos and guides to learn about Angel.

9. Feedback on how this orientation can be improved.Taken from 308 Student Responses – Fall 2012 • I didn't even look at the material for the assessments. I simply took the tests and passed. One would have to have never used a computer before, or be a complete idiot to not be able to use angel. • They aren't very interactive, which doesn't help students want to listen and read and keep moving on with the lesson. Make it more fun and not have a mono-tone man explaining all the key events in each lesson. The only interaction in the entire assignment were the test, add something else. • The only way I feel this could be improved is to put a "this is how much time is needed to complete the orientation", that information would be helpful. • It was a waste of my time because I have taken multiple online courses through JCCC. It should only be required for first-time users

10. Support Data – Completion Rates

11. Demonstration of Orientation • http://angeltest.jccc.edu • Username: stemtech • Password: password Access to Orientation

12. Questions? • Contact Ed Lovitt • elovitt@jccc.edu • Phone 913-469-2775 JCCC Distance Learning Page • http://www.jccc.edu/distance-learning/ Thank You!