American Public University System Culture Shock and Distance Education: The W-Curve in Online Learning Terry Grant, Vice President, Enrollment Management & Student Support, APUS Jason Smith, Director of Undergraduate Admissions & Lifelong Learning, APUS Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Agenda APUS – Who we are U-Curve – A Brief History W-Curve As it pertains to traditional students As it pertains to the distance learner Implications Student Support Academics Q&A

Who We Are Two institutions, American Public University and American Military University More than 100,000 distance learners studying online from 50 states and more than 100 countries More than 150 degree and certificate programs A tight-knit community of professors, staff, and students Classes start on a monthly basis, unlike traditional universities. Courses start on the first Monday of every month. Most classes are taught in both an 8-week or a 16-week format

Our Students Student Count: 100,000+ Class Distribution: 74% Undergraduate; 26% Graduate Adult Learners: Most are working adults; Median Age 31 years Military Status: 60% active duty, from all branches of service. 40% civilian and public safety Prior Learning/ Experience: Most students have transfer credit from prior learning, other university coursework, or military experience; 94% transfer students More than 40% of our graduates return to APUS for a second degree.

What is Culture Shock? Culture Shock is generally known as a feeling of discomfort or disorientation that a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life. Most of us will experience this at one point in our lifetime….

Lysgaard’s U-Curve Theory of Adjustment Honeymoon Adjustment Recovery Honeymoon – You’re fascinated by the new culture and excited about all the new interesting “sights and sounds” Culture Shock – Period of disillusionment as you must seriously cope with living a new culture on a day-to-day basis. Recovery – You gradually adapt to the new culture and learn how to behave appropriately. Adjustment – You are effective in functioning in the new culture. Day-to-day tasks are secondhand. Culture Shock Lindner, 2011

Gullahorn (1963) – Study Abroad An extension of the U-Curve Adapted for Study Abroad Re-Entry Cycle University of Connecticut, 2011

W-Curve Transition Model Acceptance and Integration Honeymoon Initial Adjustment Culture Shock Mental Isolation University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012

Zeller and Mosier (1993) – First-Year Students An extension of Gullahorn’s W-Curve Adapted for first-year college students University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012

W-Curve in Distance Education Can the W-Curve, which was initially applied to first-year college students in traditional campus settings, be applied to the experiences of students new to distance education? We believe it can!

Distance Education W-Curve Stages What does the journey look like for distance learners at each stage? Honeymoon Culture Shock Initial Adjustment Mental Isolation Acceptance & Integration

Honeymoon and Culture Shock Admission and program selection New beginning Shared excitement Sense of urgency Culture Shock Fear of failure Unfamiliar structure Learning a new “virtual” language Sense of being alone

Initial Adjustment & Mental Isolation Developing comfort Technical Relationships Academic Doubt still exists May join virtual communities Mental Isolation Life happens Interruptions Changes in work/life Academic challenges Lack of social interaction

Acceptance and Integration Finally connect to students, faculty and staff Integrated into the University culture Sense of achievement Have a clear goal in mind Can visualize graduation and degree completion

Easing the W-Curve Transitions … Student Support Academics Know your students Hire good communicators Create “hoopless” processes Schedule routine , purposeful communications Be proactive Manage expectations from the beginning Evaluate! Hire faculty suited to online teaching Faculty who are V.O.C.A.L Set and maintain high standards for student/faculty communication Check your program’s vital signs regularly Manage expectations Evaluate!

Key Points Culture shock happens Distance Learning is not for all students Ups and downs occur throughout the student lifecycle Understand your student population Manage expectations Student success is everybody’s business

Questions

References Lidner, M. (2011, April 7). Lysgaard’s U-Curve of Cultural Adjustment. Message posted to http://prezi.com/p88-eismndlg/lysgaards-u-curve-of- cultural-adjustment/ University of Connecticut Institute for Student Success. (2011). First year experience instructor manual. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.fye.uconn.edu/files/instr_manual_f11.pdf University of Minnesota Duluth. (2012). First year experience & students in transition. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.d.umn.edu/fye /freshmen/transition/development/w_curve.htm