1. Developing, Implementing and Managing a Mandatory Online Learning Readiness Course
Linda Wareck and Kerry Daniel, Instructional Technologists
Oakland Community College, June 23, 2017

2. Course Description & Overview- Online Learning Readiness Course
For Fall 2016 registration as a new course – DIST 1000
Prerequisite for all students taking Online or Hybrid Courses at OCC
No cost associated with this non-credit course
All year course – students can register at any time for immediate or future Online/Hybrid Course registration
Developed by ATG Instructional Technologists – emphasizes skills necessary to become successful online learners
Monitored and Supported – focus is to provide the best student experience for online learning

3. What We Were Doing Face-to-face student drop-in orientations
Individual class orientations
Self-enroll orientation in D2L – text heavy, help document format, optional

4. Why We Needed to Change
Students unpreparedness and unrealistic expectations of online courses causing retention and completion issues
Focus on student experience – more interactivity/practice needed to simulate real experiences
HLC

5. Challenges
Lack of standardization in course sites (initially) – committee created standards
How to handle registration and prerequisite status technically (requires intergroup work – IT/Enrollment Services)
Faculty concerns about enrollment – All year registration eased concerns
Communication of major change in online/hybrid course registration process

6. Design and Development of Course
Authoring tool search (Storyboard vs. Lectora)
Design document
Lectora development
D2L buildout

7. Pilot Phase
In tandem with working on “mandatory” processes and procedures
Two semesters
Several sections of various online courses (reached out to faculty) manually enrolled in course by system administrator
Feedback used for fine tuning prior to launch

8. Launch of Mandatory Course
Available in June 2016
For Fall 2016 Registration
Required much communication
Successful

9. Communication to OCC Community
Variety of channels, including:
OCC Website
OCC Intranet
Flyer by Marketing
D2L News Widget
ATG Digital Download
FAQs
OCC Counselors and Student Support Reps./Staff

10. Demo of Registration Process
MyOCC

11. Course Demo
D2L

12. Course Enrollments and Stats
Increase in Course Enrollments between 2016 to 2017
In 2016 – Course opened for one semester, including July to end of Aug. for Summer Semester
In 2017 – Course opened for almost one year, including Fall, Winter and half of Summer Semester
Course Start/End Dates - open from Aug. 30, 2016, to Sept. 10, 2017
Course Year Offered
Total Course Enrollments
Passing Final Grades
2017
3,396
2,278
2016
2,585
1,645

13. Supporting Students
Training for Student Support Representatives/Staff at OCC
Facilitated training for enrollment services reps. – first point of contact resolution
FAQs for Students - Online Learning Readiness Course
Meeting with Communication Specialists at OCC – incoming phone calls
Instructional Technologists Support Students directly for DIST and phone
Onlineready Mailbox – monitored by Instructional Technologists
Automatic Reply set up to respond in timely manner
Support Responding to Students - professional yet personal tone

14. Course Management
Monitoring Course on weekly basis by Instructional Technologists
Recording notes on enrollments and passing or no passing scores on quizzes
Checking for any issues students may be experiencing taking the course
Posting of Passing DIST 1000 Grades semi – automated
Gradebook back up daily
IT Programmers involved in process
Coordinated by Manager of Online Learning Technologies
Full automation of Grades Posting – Targeted for Winter 2019

15. Support Challenges
ATG new target audience is online students - previous focus on faculty contact
Outreach to staff in departments that support students
Resources for training to support OCC staff and reps. – front line support with our students
Keeping everyone involved updated on information in a timely manner – remaining flexible as changes occur
Monitoring Onlineready mailbox during peak registration times for online courses
Identifying common questions asked by students relating to DIST 1000 – providing solutions before Qs asked
Addressing general questions from potential online students – referring to counselors who advise students

16. Student Feedback
End of Course Student Feedback – DIST 1000 for HLC Report

17. Going Forward
New instance must be launched each year due to AY course designation in colleges information system
Updates made prior to new launch based on feedback and review
Currently under redesign for greater accessibility
Will need to do further updating with upcoming D2L interface change
Create templates for support when responding to students’ frequently asked questions

18. Wrap Up: Q & A Let’s continue the discussion . . . Questions?
Presenter Contact Information:
Linda Wareck, Instructional Technologist,
Kerry Daniel, Instructional Technologist,