1. Marketing Status Update
Agenda
Research Process
Marketing Status Update
Representative Questions
Marketing/Big Ideas
Details
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2. Research Process Focus: Interviewed 18 students across 7 cohorts
Timeframe: February/March 2017
Program: Masters in Education
Format: 30 minute phone interviews
Key Objective:
Gain perspective on overall experience to support future marketing, product (content and technology), and service initiatives
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3. Representative Questions
Agenda
Research Process
Marketing/Big Ideas
Details
Representative Questions
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4. Representative Questions
What were you looking for in a program?
What made you choose this program?
What other programs did you consider?
How would you describe your overall experience? (pros and cons)
What are the program’s greatest strengths?
What were the biggest challenges to completing the coursework?
How would you describe your interactions with the program director, specialist, and instructors?
Are you interested in online study groups?
Would you recommend the program?
How would you describe the program to a friend or colleague?
Rate the program from 1-5 (tops)
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5. Representative Questions
Agenda
Research Process
Representative Questions
Research Details
Marketing/Big Ideas
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6. Big Ideas
Generally, students are very happy with the program, they also tended to talk about:
Success coach and instructors both regarded as “highly available” and strengths of program
Some negative interactions with certain instructors; but not overall
Ease/organization of TCM and applicability of assignments (hands-on) also key strengths
Many students wanted more teacher assistance:
Some recognized and liked the concept of “teaching yourself”, but others wanted professors to teach more
More teacher-generated materials – PPTs/audio-based lectures; help synthesizing and summarizing materials
Directions were not always clear on assignments; wasted time
Many wanted more interaction with peers and instructors, overall
*Webinars (especially at beginning of class or for help with tough assignments), discussion boards, introductions, etc.
Perceptions of difficulty vary: some wanted more challenge and instruction, some thought harder than expected, especially for online
Not surprisingly, previous teaching experience was often a factor here
Many still wanted more - and more consistent - feedback on assignments:
Generally pretty quick turnaround and rubrics are helpful
Amount of detail varied per professor, wanted more (even when did well)
Want more exemplars
Interest in Study Groups was “okay”
More for students who are struggling, and as time permits
More Webinars and discussion boards might be just as helpful
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7. Representative Questions Marketing/Big Ideas
Agenda
Research Process
Representative Questions
Marketing/Big Ideas
Details
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8. Pros/ Strengths of Program
Most common answers:
Availability and support of advisors
Availability and support of instructors - can call for more insight, they were very open and flexible with phone and
Knowledge and expertise of instructors
Flexibility and accessibility of program
Ease and organization of TCM (being able to look ahead)
Accelerated 8-week class schedule
Assignment grading/feedback – Rubric was helpful and 3 chances to do an assignment
Others mentioned:
Don’t have to commute
Limited tests - greater focus on papers and demonstrate what you can do
Applicability of assignments - lesson and unit plans, IEPs; definitely preparing me for the field
Webinars - helpful to hear other people’s questions and connect with instructors
Content - adjusted well for online; informative classes; good readings
Competency model structure
We were doing the program alone, but we were never alone. Not on an island.
I thought it was going to be easy, but it really made me reflect on my current teaching practices. I thought I already knew this; it really made me be open to new ideas (ELL, diversity, social justice)
Thought competency based would mean that you can get stuck and never move forward.. It would slow me down, but I really enjoyed it. You revise it and teach yourself.
Exactly what I expected in terms of workload and content.
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9. Challenges Overall Challenges to just “getting the work done”:
Finding the time:
Getting it done in 8 weeks is a challenge
Challenge to do while working/ with kids
Fitting in time for practicum is especially hard
Prefer elements of face-to-face environment:
I wish I could have done a class in person (better for me) but I couldn’t
Hard to not have verbal interactions
Perceived difficulty/ expectations:
Wish it was easier; difficulty surprised me for an online program
Just time to get up to speed and past the first class
It’s not the program; I had trouble pacing myself
Specific assignment issues:
Having to resubmit an assignment, and then you can only get a max grade (should be an average)
Unfair when assignment is not clear and you get penalized grade-wise
All the reasons why it’s great to do it online, also make it hard. There is value in being in a room with people.
In the beginning, this was harder to figure out, it’s like being out in the wilderness. No one is micromanaging you. It’s still a lot of work, I expected it to be easier.
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10. I’m still going to continue, though.
Satisfaction Ratings
Scores
Reasons cited for being/ not being a “5”
5 (7 votes)
Learned a lot; also help with licensing exams
Instructors do a good job varying assignments
Good course choices
4.5 (3 votes)
Want more opportunities for face-to-face; networking
Some classes were so much more work than others; hard to plan
4 (5 votes)
Materials – more online PPTs, handouts, not just reading; help us interpret what reading
More teacher generated materials and help synthesizing
More course choices (math, “big picture” changes in education affecting the classroom)
Some courses did not seem modified for online (needed expanded instruction, videos, etc.)
3.5 (2 vote)
Having more webinars/ going over things as a group (you are paying for this and have to teach it to yourself)
Lack of communication; don’t get responses right away
2 (1 vote)
Quick and easy, but I am looking for more; rigor needs stepping up
Need more lesson planning; can’t write 1 lesson plan and think you know how to do it
Need more diversity and behavior management
How would you rate the overall experience from 1-5 (5=tops)
Would you recommend it?
Yes: 17
No: 1
I have surpassed my own expectations. I have been getting better grades than I ever did as an undergrad; I’m understanding the materials well.
I’d like to say yes, but I’d have concerns about someone who doesn’t have a teaching background – that they were being adequately prepared to manage 20+ kids in a classroom.
I’m still going to continue, though.
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