Virtual Orientation: Personalized Communities with Market Appeal Marcus P. Robinson Brian A. Young Educause 2001 Indianapolis, Indiana

VO: a Beginning Utilize technology to support and enhance community building and connected learning within the learning-living environment Facilitate and enrich student transition to college life Highly personalized, dynamic, interactive on-line educational and social orientation

VO: Three Years Young 1999: on-line course selection for incoming students created 2000: Math Placement Exam added, Virtual Room created 2001: current Virtual Orientation realized Announcements, FAQs, parent’s section Expanded academic resource information Language Placement Exams Personal profiles w/ messaging/chat capabilities Student services w/ interactive chats hosted by UD officials “Targeted” bookstore interface Customizable personal space Academic orientation to Humanities Base curriculum

Virtual Orientation robinsmp ******* With one quick log-in, the student receives personalized, targeted content

Virtual Orientation Points of Pride >

Virtual Orientation < UD Headlines

Virtual Orientation University-wide, division, major, and interest specific announcements

Click to save content for future reference > Virtual Orientation

Questions, answers, and more questions; with sorting based on student usage and interest

Virtual Orientation Submit a new question here

Descriptions, 1 st semester options, all available courses, faculty, and more

Virtual Orientation In-depth descriptions of major course of study >

Virtual Orientation Detailed summary of 1 st semester options >

Virtual Orientation All courses by major course of study >

Virtual Orientation A resource designed to address the concerns and questions of parents of incoming students

Virtual Orientation An on-line academic portfolio including student schedules, computer specs., and advisor info.

Virtual Orientation

Campus resources includes information on all student service offices indexed by building

Virtual Orientation No more long lines at the bookstore with on-line book purchase; based on student schedule

Virtual Orientation A customizable section with surveys, calendars, and more; Personal Space

Virtual Orientation Important dates and events >

Saved content > Virtual Orientation

Add a personal profile >

Virtual Orientation Virtual Room: live chats, move-in checklists, search capabilities, area business info., and much more

Virtual Orientation See actual room, and meet roommate(s) >

Virtual Orientation

VO: by the Numbers Site life-span: 20 weeks User population: ~1,750 99% of all incoming students logged-in ~4,000 log-ins/week; top 10 users: ~17 log- ins/week ~22 minutes/log-in 1,344 profiles posted; ~76.8% ~17,000 messages exchanged between students; ~9,600 chat sessions launched* 96.2% Windows; 2.7% Mac 92% IE; 7.2% Netscape *reported over 8-week period

VO: the Big Picture

Initial mailing sent: 897 deposited students Weeks 1 & 2

VO: the Big Picture Course Selection and Placement Exams available Weeks 3 - 5

VO: the Big Picture Targeted s begin with site hooks Weeks 3 - 5

VO: the Big Picture Deposit deadline Week 6

VO: the Big Picture Campus Resources section available Weeks 7 - 9

VO: the Big Picture Continued Targeted s with site hooks Weeks 7 - 9

VO: the Big Picture Course Schedules available Week 10

VO: the Big Picture Anticipation builds for Virtual Room; graduation Weeks 11 & 12

VO: the Big Picture Virtual Room, Bookstore Express available Week 13

VO: the Big Picture Usage levels out Weeks 14 & 15

VO: the Big Picture On-campus Orientation materials available Week 16

VO: the Big Picture Final Targeted s w/ last minute information Weeks 18 & 19

VO: the Big Picture Log-ins compared with student messages sent

VO: Lessons Learned, Challenges Faced, and the Rest of the Story Enterprise-wide collaboration and buy-in is most essential success, and most challenging to achieve Content management will make or break you Personalization makes the difference Exercise constraint, and realize limitations (most likely not technological) Always consider the audience and the hook Sustain, sustain, sustain Quality control must be a high priority, with constant monitoring and evaluation Collect and analyze usage statistics and data continuously to anticipate problems and identify trends Be prepared for the unexpected Once you start, it won’t stop Done well, this can be a market differentiator

VO: Encouraging Recognition

VO: Thank You Marcus P. Robinson University of Dayton Brian A. Young Hobart and William Smith Colleges Copyright Marcus P. Robinson, This work is the intellectual property of the author. Permission is granted for this material to be shared for non-commercial, educational purposes, provided that this copyright statement appears on the reproduced materials and notice is given that the copying is by permission of the author. To disseminate otherwise or to republish requires written permission from the author.