Online Student Success: Teaching the ABCs of Online Proficiency to Produce As, Bs, and Cs in Online Classes

Systems Analysis and Design A step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems In-house or Out-source? –Lack of funding = In-house –Personalized information = In-house –Modular design = In-house –Ease of adaptability = In-house Components: –Hardware, Software, Data, Processes, People

Systems Development Life Cycle Systems Planning Systems Analysis Systems Design Systems Implementation Systems Operation, Support, and Security

Systems Planning Involve the online faculty throughout the development process Listen to the online facultys needs for student proficiency in BB Keep the project flexible and modular Develop accurate information Allow access from home or school, broadband or dial-up

Systems Planning Develop a preliminary investigation report for online faculty Identify preliminary findings concerning student success in online courses Listen to recommendations by faculty and make recommendations to faculty Identify time estimates for completion, pilot, and implementation Discuss expected benefits to student success

Systems Planning Clear set of objectives developed –Students should be able to: Access BB site and correctly login Be familiar with the interface Use the navigation features Correctly complete assessments Effectively use the Digital Dropbox Be familiar with attachments

Systems Analysis Rapid Application Development (RAD) –Requirements Planning: All parties involved agreed on the initial set of objectives and goals –User Design: Simple models and prototypes developed –Construction: Camtasia Studio and Macromedia Flash used –Cutover: Online instructor training and full-scale rollout of system

Systems Analysis Development Strategies –Web-based with Macromedia Flash –Web-based with Windows Media Player –CD-Based Instruction –PC Lab-Only Instruction User Interface –Controls as easy to use as a VCR –Screen captures with live motion for similar feel as BB

Systems Design Design Objectives –Effective: Easily navigated by online students Increases student proficiency with BB Accepted by online students and online faculty Able to be delivered to ALL online students –Reliable: Planned to handle any errors and correct them ASAP Valid and reliable measurability by post-assessment –Maintainable: Well-designed and flexible (modular) to allow for future modifications Modules build on knowledge gained in the previous module

Systems Design System Prototype –Provided a full-featured, working model of the information system –Encouraged online faculty to experiment with the system in an effort to preemptively find faults –Encouraged faculty unfamiliar with BB to experiment to gauge instructional effectiveness –Piloted the study with students familiar with BB and those who werent –Feedback was taken from all parties involved

Systems Implementation Software engineering –Stressed solid design, accurate documentation, and careful testing –Mastery of instruction provided should be measurable by online post-assessment Documentation –Program (description, guides, reports, program modules) –System (described the tutorials functions and how they are implemented) –Operations (information for distributing online instruction) –User (instructions and information to online students who will interact with the system

Systems Implementation Management Approval System Installation and Evaluation Training for web-based faculty –5-7 total training sessions held to accommodate all schedules –Training focus: Faculty learning and use of BB Facultys ability to assist students

Systems Implementation Post-Implementation Tasks –Evaluation of effectiveness Post-assessment administered to students who had taken the online tutorial Online surveys Questioning students and faculty Breakdown of pre and post data from online student success

Systems Operation, Support, and Security User training for students available online or in a F2F orientation Help Desks available to answer questions related to system Maintenance Activities –Constant vigilance on the effectiveness of the tutorial –Ongoing evaluation of online student success by online faculty and SCC –Student and faculty feedback for corrective maintenance, perfective maintenance, and preventative maintenance

Systems Operation, Support, and Security Constantly evolving, modular tutorial designed to increase student success by enhancing their understanding and knowledge of BB Accomplished by using 10 modules, each less than 6 minutes in length as not to overload the instruction Tutorial available 24/7 online for instruction or remediation

Creation of the Tutorial Camtasia Studio, Macromedia Flash, Windows Media Player, Windows XP Performed video screen captures of live instruction (visual learner) Added voice-over to explain the details of instruction (auditory learner) Added callouts and hotspots to force the student to use their mouse and perform an action during the instruction (tactile learner)

Delivery of the Tutorial Flash animation created and placed on the SCC website 2 versions of flash pages created –High-bandwidth for DSL and Cable users –Low-bandwidth for dial-up users Same information, difference in video quality and size

The Tutorial Itself Choose version Choose module (each module builds on knowledge gained during the previous module) Use the VCR-like controls to start, stop, pause, rewind, and fast-forward the tutorial ---DEMO---