Jan Parrish

Our online orientation is set up within our learning environment very similar to how their classes will be so they can learn how to navigate. It is interactive with quizzes, providing information about the school for credibility as well as teaching them how to "attend" their classes. It can be a challenge to incorporate "real time" connections with chat for some students who are in different time zones around the world, but I think it could be very helpful. I also think including videos in online orientation would enhance the experience.

Linda Myers CPC

If you can incorporate an online chat session or some other type of interactive session along with the typical online orientation that would combine the best of both worlds wouldn't it? Students learn by doing and seeing and if you can bring that to the online environment then it would be very beneficial.

Laura O'Reilly

Great for an online class, but a bad idea for a career, hands-on, brick-and-mortar, class. Part of orientation is learning about the envrionment in which you will be working; therefore, an online orientation is appropriate for an online class, but not for a traditional class.

Amy Shipshock

I am currently an on-line student and I would have to say that I did find it difficult to get engaged in the process of starting school again because all I did was read though a bunch of documents it would be great if there was a more interactive way to accomplish this type of orientation.

George Yeakey CHEP

Peter, students can and do self-pace” the online orientation, but I think that there should be available help chats as well as informative chat sessions scheduled. This adds another dimension to the orientation in that it makes it personal and involves students in a group….”together.”

Peter Jones

In my opinion, most people who use computers do a lot of 'socialising' (this is correct spelling, there is no 'Z' in socialising) online and would probably be more familiar with online orientation at their own pace
There will always be some type of 'help' button for FAQ and a contact number for questions not covered

Mara Diaz

but if a student have questions during the orientation, how would i know their concerns?

Allison Dyer

Thank you Susan, that is great information. I will actually be presenting these ideas to the school Director this week.Hopefully they will consider these idas that i have learned through this course.

Susan Backofen

Allison--

Many schools, especially online, do have some variation of an online orientation. Some have it completely self-paced (software allows you to see how has signed in, when and for how long) and typically they also have some 'assignment' or quiz at the end of each module to ensure the student has grasped particular material.

Others have a combination of posting resources covered in a typical on-ground orientation (handouts, policies, etc.) and a web-based or conference call option where students from across geographic locations would call in to participate in an orientation.

There are no doubt other variations.

Hope this helps.

Susan