Advisement and Counseling

Strategies for Online Learners in Advanced Degree

Programs

Cheryl L. Ward, Ph. D.University of Akron

Ohio

Session Description

Online learning provides convenience for learners who work all day, but connecting with students for advising and counseling in traditional face-to-face office meetings is challenging. Synchronous online tools have provided much needed social presence and opportunities for connections that are convenient for all.

OR……

What do you do when you have 150 advisees who teach all day and can only meet after 4:30pm and do not want to drive and PARK on campus??

Online Learners

Expect 24/7 access

Expect prompt responses

Want online access to all forms and information

Make decisions quickly, have limited time to make decisions and complete requirements

Need advising time in WAVES of need!

Advising Waves

Registration time

Summer Advising –teachers are off in the summer and can pay attention

Fall new admissions to program

When ePortfolios are due March 15, July 15, November 15

Discuss 3 types of advising

Accessing Advising Information

Interacting and Accomplishing Advising Tasks

Solving Advising Issues and Problems

Accessing Advising Information

Regular public website versus Program PortalPortal contains resources for

active and inactive students accepted into the program

IT Master’s Blog

IT Master’s Program Portal

Program Portal Content

The “infamous” blue folder goes digital!

Content to help support and extend learning

Online Discussions in Portal

One question answered advantages many!

Learners will answer questions!

More experienced learners help the newbies.

Online students feel part of a group for support and human contact.

IT Master’s Program Blog

• Widget driven• Embedded in portal• Students can RSS

Interacting and Accomplishing Advising Tasks

E-mail, cell phone, texting

Instant messaging in the LMS/Portal

Online Synchronous Advising Sessions

Paging/ Instant Messaging

Paging feature in the LMS and portal area

See who is working make personal contact

Synchronous Web Conferencing

Cohort Advising

Recording link:https://sas.elluminate.com/mrtbl?suid=M.8C8DA5980798D7780FEFF16503A329

Collaborative documents

Collaborating on documents online

Google Docs enables you to work together on the document and saves the changes on one document

Student can see your work and add their own ideas and changes

Student and advisor immediately have a copy

Students can sign with a signature image or print, sign and send back through snail mail

Online Advising Session Scenario

Make online appointment confirmed with e-mail directions

Prepare documents in Google Docs for synchronous work

Meet in Elluminate or other synchronous tool

Provide resources, allow time for discussion and questions, complete tasks, ensure student is comfortable

Invite participation in the Portal for additional information

Invite to campus meeting if needed

Solving Advising Issues and Problems

Usually simple is better—cell phone quicker than e-mail Cell phone with access to Google Docs and

Portal to navigate together and show documents etc.

Elluminate with video—face to face meeting. You can read body language, see facial expressions, see frustration. Personalized attention with video

Face-to-Face at a common location, if campus is not convenient. I have done cohort groups at Panera

Data on these strategies

Data have been gathered from learners who participated in the program before and after the implementation of the synchronous advising, counseling and information sessions. Interview and survey data indicate that the addition of these sessions has improved student achievement on the field experience and ePortfolio artifacts, increase student satisfaction with the program and with their own learning, and increased the number of students interested in the program through cohort recruitment.

‘What is next?Step into Second Life

Experimenting with Second Life for advising

Huge learning curve for inexperienced

Time consuming and skill dependent

At this point we think simple may be better for advising!

Questions and Comments