Jaime,
Two comments. Having a meet and greet with instructors at the end of the orientation day would be a good start. Orientation should be considered more than a single day event. It is a process. Having some "touch points" during the first couple of weeks would be helpful to all.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I feel that if all of the instructors were to meet with their individual programs at orientation, it would make the students feel more comfortable when they begin. They would already see familiar faces on their first day. Our school has an orientation where all of the new students for every program are all put together and given orientation at one time. They have started having student leaders go in and speak to the new students about what to expect. I think that has been helpful for them to actually hear from peers.
Tim,
That sounds like a good program. Thanks for sharing.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We have a good plan.
Some courses have a Keys to Success program that reconnects to core values of campus.
Nikki,
Having the online resource will be helpful. Expecting retention of the information from orientation day is probably not realistic.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We are starting a new orientation program this week actually and it includes not only the on campus orientation that students come to, but an online orientation that goes into great detail about the school, program, departments, and industry. I hope that this tool will really help students to become successful in the future. Our on campus orientation i feel is overwhelming to students because of the amount of information they receive and this will be a way for them to soak up the information a second time.
daniel,
Building connections with people at the school, faculty, staff, or fellow students, helps the student to know they matter and made a good choice about their education.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
In order to help our students feel welcomed within our school, I usually introduce myself and give a brief summary about myself along with some hobbies that I enjoy and how I got started into this field of work. Then from there we bring in admissions, director of pipefitting along with any other personnel that need to give any info. Then from there we ask the students stand up one at a time to introduce themselves and give a brief idea of what they enjoy and where they are from.
I think this is an excellent idea. I believe that when students know who to contact about certain issues, they are more confident. It slso makes some situations less stressful.
Stephan ,
Sort of like home room was in High School but with greater support for their studies. A good practice.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
We have found having orientation each morning before class starts has been helpful, but taking this course has given me helpful ideas on making ours better, like involving admissions all teachers and staff involved in there daily life at the school.
Arnitra,
What type of distractions? If it is paperwork and finances then you have to look at those processes at the school. Also consider building in time for students to visit the offices they need to meet with.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I think the orientation process needs to be re-vamped. A more thorough orientation should be set in place. As of right now, Students are not getting everything they need in orientation that should be given. Instead, the students are starting classes and then have so many interruptions during classes that are already fast paced which cuts down on lecture time. There are far too many distractions throughout the course with things that could be taken care of in a totally different manner.
Isabella,
You have probably picked up a great deal of information from the visits.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Lola,
This a great suggestion. Orientation is more than a single day event. Realistically, orientation begins with enrollment.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
I am an adjunct instructor that teaches one course, I have had department heads and the dean of the school come in and introduce themselves to the students during the first week. Additionally, there have been other staff members that have come in and introduced themselves to the students.
In our current orientation program the students are introduced with a general orientation of the school after which the students are divided into departmental groups to continue with orientation. Sounds good, however after orientation the students go on to complete 2 terms of general ed. course work, and they either forget or choose to ignore the advice and instruction given during the orientation process. I feel it would be useful to develope an orientation program that helps to phase the students from the general education courses into the demand of the core program courses.
Mary,
Does your school's orientation do this? How would you change it now that you have had this course.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
John,
Hopefully the school provides an "orientation" for staff and faculty to these programs if they have them up and running.
Ron Hansen, Ed. D.
Orientation is a vital part of the student experience. The student should walk away from the orientation feeling secure in his or her choice in schools and the particular program they have chosen. They should feel ready to start their education, confident in the academic atmosphere.
