Orientation Modules for Online Education: Guiding Learners to Success in Online Courses

August 31, 2010 - 3:11pm | by rtbrown
Presenter(s)
Diane Holtzman (The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, US)
Michael Ciocco (Rowan University, US)
Dennis Fotia (Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, US)
Session Information
November 3, 2010 - 1:00pm
Track: 
Student Services and Learner Support
Areas of Special Interest: 
None of the above
Major Emphasis of Presentation: 
Practical Application
Institutional Level: 
Institution
Session Type: 
Individual Presentation
Location: 
Antigua 4
Session Duration: 
35
Concurrent Session: 
1
Abstract

This session will present the student orientation programs that were developed and refined for online learning at The Richard Stockton College and Rowan University. Best practices used at both colleges will be presented in the session including demonstrations of interactive tutorials and examples from the online orientation modules.

Extended Abstract

Presentation Description Providing an orientation to online education is a key element for students to have an enriched, meaningful learning experience in their distance education classes. The problems that online learners encounter include not knowing how to navigate the sites within the course management system, being confused in how to use the online learning tools, not knowing how to adjust to the online learning environment, and not having sufficient computer skills to post assignments and emails online. As colleges design more online educational programs, it becomes essential to instruct students in how to access, navigate, study, and engage with each other in virtual environments. One method to orient students is done through interactive, online, self-paced orientation modules that help students transition from the traditional face-to-face classroom to the online classroom. To become familiar with the online learning environment, students are encouraged, and often required, to complete the orientation modules prior to starting their first distance education classes. This session will present best practices from the student orientation programs that were developed and refined for online learning at The Richard Stockton College and Rowan University to guide learners to success in online courses. Included in the best practices that will be discussed are -Examples of the student tutorials developed and refined at both institutions -Examples from each institution's online orientation modules and protocols including the Quick Course Training at Rowan University and the interactive student assessment modules to track students' understanding of online education used at The Richard Stockton College to track students' understanding of online education -Discussion of the feedback received from online learners about the orientation modules Goals: Session attendees will gain a greater understanding of -The importance of providing supportive documentation in ways that engage the online learner [use of videos, voice-over powerpoints, screencasts, interactive exercises] - How to use content modules within an orientation for online education - How to design the orientation modules in order to engage students with the content - How to incorporate college resources within the online learning modules - The importance of establishing a protocol for the institution's online education program that will provide learners with consistency throughout their online education

Final Presentation: 
application/vnd.ms-powerpoint iconSloan-C_2010.ppt
Lead Presenter

Diane Holtzman is an assistant professor of business studies at The Richard Stockton College. She has over 20 years of experience in higher education administration and teaching. Diane’s doctorate is in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Her prior graduate work is from Virginia Polytechnic University and Rowan University. Her research interests include learning outcomes assessment, the incorporation of technology in pedagogy, and generational diversity in the workplace and the classroom.

Michael Ciocco graduated from Rowan University with his M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering.  He currently works at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ as the Instructional Technology Design Specialist for the College of Professional and Continuing Education, where he oversees the launch of Rowan's Online Learning initiative involving online course development and technology management.  Michael has been published in both the Engineering and Computer Technology arenas including the Proceedings of the 28th Annual Review of Progress in Quantitative Non-destructive Evaluation (QNDE), and the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Special Interests Group for University and College Computing Services (SIGUCCS) Annual Conference in 2005 and 2006.

Dennis Fotia is the Assistant Director of Distance Education at The Richard Stockton College of NJ. A graduate of both Rowan University and Richard Stockton, with a B.A. in Communications and M.A. in Instructional Technology, he has worked in public education for the last 17 years serving the K-12, Community College, and higher education sectors. He provides administrative support and faculty development for distance education courses to both Stockton schools and faculty. He delivers pedagogical professional development for faculty wishing to teach online courses and is the On-Campus Coordinator for the IDEA Online, the college’s online student response to instruction assessment instrument.