Online Orientation Programs
Does anyone have best practices to share on Online Orientation Programs?
Chana,
I am sure you will present why that will be a help to them in their teaching as well. Best of luck.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Chana,
Soft-skills are not taught as much as developed. Adding activities that have students interacting with each other will help them use their interpersonal skills. Then this has to be reinforced throughout the curriculum.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
After reading these posts, we will try to improve personnel visibility. I plan on requiring all Instructors to present a mandatory (for students) web session to introduce themselves to students and make a personal connection to them.
It is not possible for me to meet our students face-to face. However, I like your idea of requiring students to talk to the instructor, perhaps in the online classroom. How do you (or others,) teach the soft-skills during orientation? This is a challenge we are working on.
I have conducted this type of orientation and it can be done. The key is to have technology that allows for interaction. The other critical area is to touch on the element that is critical to the student rather than showing them every function in an online environment.
I love blended courses. Touch and technology... a good thing. You know exactly what needs to be done.
Dr. B
I teach a blended course, half the classes are online the other half are done in a classroom environment. Students really appreciate that they get to know the Instructor and are able to meet with them physically. Online instructors are virtual, students don't get that personal attention, there is some detachment with the Online Instructor.It is imperative that the instructor find some way to reach out to EACH student for that connection.
I found that the online orientation for my last degree was much harder to get involved in than others that got me in front of the staff of the school.
A live feed and possibly an assignment to post a video of oneself discussing information about himself/herself as a type of icebreaker can be a great way to get to know the students and have them feel as though they are invested in the class experience.
There are some webcast programs that are effective but I'm not sure of the cost.
Cheryl, I conduct face to face orientation sessions for ground students enrolled in an online class. I provide information on how to navigate the system and direct them towards University policies and instructor policies. I, also, discuss time management and discuss the need for contingency plans. I provide the opportunity for students to form student groups and discuss the benefits of networking with other non campus students enrolled in the online class. I let the students know that I expect to hear from them during the weeks following the orientation so they will feel comfortable about contacting me if they are experiencing problems. I, also, follow with frequent emails to see how they are doing.
Great. You should encourage orientation attendance. The key is to respond to question and to make sure school personnel are visible too. Sometimes online students feel lonely... the key is to be visible.
Dr. B
Our online orientation is required for all students who are new to the online format. It runs about an hour to an hour and a half. We have every student log into their online class and walk them through the requirement of the class. We also show them what resources are available both online and on campus to support them and they are able to see and meet our on campus support staff. This has been a huge factor in whether our students have been successful in online classes or not. Typically if students do not attend the orientation, they quickly become overwhelmed and give up on the online classes.
Hmmm...This has been the struggle I have which appears that I will have to research and pioneer some type program and develop as we go. We do have an online orientation which includes a tutorial, information on how to use our systems, College policies and the like. I have recently started to include some soft-skills such as attendance and time-management. I think what I will continue to do moving forward is take my ques from the students by way of surveys to see wht they need up-front, or wished they would have known and continue to build from there.
Not that I am aware of.
Dr. B
