Using Technology for Readiness and Success WCET 20 th Annual Conference November 8, 2008.
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Transcript of Using Technology for Readiness and Success WCET 20 th Annual Conference November 8, 2008.
Multiple Paths, Common Goal: Student Success
Your Academic Journey at Metropolitan State University
Carol Lacey ([email protected])
Starting Point: Hybrid FYE Metro 101 (Academic Journey) taught almost
completely f2f with minimal online. Once weekly classes provide little opportunity for
discussion/connection in between for entering students.
Entering students find Metro State’s online orientation a dynamic learning experience.
Website for f2f/hybrid/online can improve individualization to meet students’ needs and improve students’ success and retention.
Shared resources save time and $.
CTL/Metro State Partnership MNSCU’s (Minnesota State College and
Universities) Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) provides support for curricular innovation and improvement to address measurable outcomes (quantitative such as completion and retention rates, qualitative such as clearer assessment through application of competencies and rubrics.
Curricular innovation and improvement based on framework of collaborative AND individual effort and creativity.
Starting Point: Students
Digital natives (know a great deal about computers and technology): 51%Y/31%N
D2L intro sparked interest in taking web-assisted or online course: 35%Y/28%N
Come to class once a week
Website points of interest (top 4)
Communicate with instructor/classmates
See grades onlineAsk questions or get
informationSee due dates for
assignments
Self Assessment Limited Developing Advanced Proficient Exemplary
Learning Styles
0 5 6 7 2
Time Management
2 4 4 9 1
Reading Skills 0 5 10 4 2
Critical thinking
1 4 12 4 0
Communi-cation skills
3 4 4 9 1
Interests/goals
1 2 6 9 3
Major/programs
0 6 8 4 3
(at start)
Starting Point: Faculty
Mix of community and resident faculty Great variance in comfort/experience with online
teaching and/or communication Teaching in very different ways-similar goals, but
widely varying content Frustrations and concerns with how to meet
needs of Power of You as well as other students Concerned about serious fail/withdraw/drop
rate(<1/3)
Learning Outcomes
Nature of higher education Learning styles, interests, Career exploration, major options Reinforce key academic skills: reading, writing,
critical thinking, time management MSU values, processes, resources, complex and richly diverse community
Focus on Learning, Not Retention
If students are learning, they will stay. Therefore, make sure students learn and KNOW
HOW TO LEARN in their first year. Hybrid approach enhances student learning and
connection to campus and colleagues and in the process, also improves student success and retention rates.
Process in a Nutshell
MNSCU CTL grant support for master d2l course site with core course content, discussions, resource links, study and academic skills testing.
Individualized (including syllabus, gradebook, dropbox) for fall 07 pilot.
Revision with shared content vehicles, learning outcomes and rubrics for use in all sections by spring 09.
Pedagogy First
Original plan focused on training faculty for hybrid and online teaching (few had any online teaching or learning experience).Training continues in fall ‘08.
FYE teaching seminar: faculty shared best practices for teaching and assessing learning outcomes.
Each faculty developed topical “vehicles” which all others can use.
The truly collaborative effort strengthened course design and delivery overall.
Hybrid FYE Collaborative
Improves consistency in learning outcomes and assessment
Shares best practices, including curricular vehicles with specialized focus.
Pedagogy first, technology follows
Curricular “Vehicle” Options
Environment Immigration (links with Project Shine) Service learning (links with Project Shine
and other service learning) Diversity Educational philosophy
Environmental Action
Death in paradise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cMihMeq3Y
Personal emissions calculator (EPA): http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
EPA action steps: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/actionsteps.html
Education Equity
Savage Inequalities (Jonathan Kozol): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mdlYaCjf2I
Little Boxes of Levittown: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=nynfGo6yg-4
Gender equity: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRFHlw0iE_8
Service Learning Resources
Project Shine video: http://umconnect.umn.edu/p32071329
Learning to Life video: http://servicelearning.org/lsa/bring_learning/fullvideo.php
Service learning evaluation: http://servicelearning.org/instant_info/hot_topics/eval_assess/index.php
Sense of Community: Students
Cohort class (one exception) built cohesiveness, community.
FYE class had positive impact on retention (25/26 fall 07 students continued in spring 08-one transferred to MCTC).
Class mixing FYE with other students would give more realistic experience of future class mix.
Need to clarify D2L discussions vs. MySpace/IM communication style.
Sense of Community: Faculty
Faculty receptive, if not ready to teach online.
Faculty respectful of others in their community of colleagues.
Hybrid course development drew out dynamic exchange, discussion and refining (IP) of best practices.
Power of You Lessons Learned
Hybrid approach significantly improved retention/completion (almost all succeeded).
Better coordination with summer orientation to reduce unneeded overlap
Clearer focus needed on transition or high school/college distinctions
POY students throughout FYE sections more realistic student-centered (schedules/future class experiences)
Next Steps Refine individual curriculum vehicles developed
by faculty on topics of interest, adding dynamic multi-media resources
Implement shared outcomes through D2L competencies and rubrics tool.
Improve collaboration with university-wide Power of You efforts
Improve student affairs/FYE communication and collaboration for all entering first-year students.
Teaching First Year Students
What challenges do you face teaching first year students?
What are you doing to improve their success/retention? Specific measures?
Do you have special recruitment, tuition incentives and instructional delivery-such as cohorts- for low income high school graduates? What experiences have you had?
Montgomery Community College
25,000 trad. & non-trad. credit students Fall ’08 numbers
179 fully online & 65 blended sections 3427 fully online and 1044 blended
enrollments 14% online and 22% blended 1 year > Fall ‘08 - 15% more F’s & W’s earned in
online than in on ground courses.
Fall 2006 Research Community College online Course
Retention and Grade Prediction Used readiness measures to predict
success Identify at risk students Open enrollment setting Suggest interventions
Reasons for Departure Many, varied Different reasons for traditional/non-
tradition students Online-on ground differences Essential to focus on those reasons
where college can make a difference
Psychological Readiness Learner Autonomy Profile
Autonomous, discipline, self directed, in control of learning, motivation, direction
Findings – Psychological readiness is a good predictor of online course retention and of earning a grade of A, B, or C.
Technical Readiness Online Technologies Self-Efficacy Scale
Having and being able to use necessary hardware and software
The relationship between technical readiness and online course retention was insignificant and therefore not a good predictor of online course retention and not a good predictor of earning a grade of A, B, or C – contradicts two previous studies
Social Readiness Social Presence and Privacy
Questionaire Social integration, social presence, privacy,
social relationships, communication styles, feedback, immediacy
Social readiness is a good predictors of online course retention and of earning a grade of A, B, or C.
Interventions at MC: Prior to Semester Start
READI On-ground Orientation - Office of DL Online, on Demand Orientation -
WebCT Virtual Orientation – Elluminate Online New Student Advising Session -
eMap
Prior: Are you READI? Self assessment of reading speed and
comprehension, technical skills, typing speed and accuracy, motivation, time management, self discipline
650 assessment – 1st 3 months Available from DL homepage
Prior: On-ground Orientation Six sessions – afternoon and evening
on each campus Registration from DL homepage Topics: how to get started in distance
learning, navigating WebCT resources, library skills, and practice on the computer.
Prior: Orientation to Online Learning WebCT demo site Available from DL homepage Topics include: The Basics, Study
Skills, Getting Ready, Communication, WebCT, Learning Styles, Getting Help, Microsoft Office Tutorials, Resources, File Management Tutorial, Checklists for Getting Started, Email Tutorial
Prior: Virtual Orientation Pilot fall ‘08, 23 attended, 44 listened to
Elluminate recording Topics: Introduction to online learning at
MC, overview of WebCT, and ends with helpful hints about how to get started and become a successful online learner.
Interventions at MC: During the Semester
General Question & Answer – DL WebCT
Virtual Counseling and Advising Center – Counseling WebCT
Online Student Success Center – Counseling website
Online advising and counseling using email and Elluminate
Questions & Contact Info. Carol Lacey, Faculty
Anita Crawley, Interim Director, [email protected]