1. Is the Early e-Learner Prepared for Academic Success? Wenying Huang-Stolte, Instructional Technologist, Educational Technology, York College Alan Winson, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Communication, John Jay College

2. Early e-Learners Students enrolled in online/hybrid courses for the first time do not understand what is involved in such courses ◦ Trying to find a classroom for an online course ◦ Thinking that online course is easier Do not know if online course is a good fit for them Lack of the study skills and technology skills needed to be a successful e-Learner ◦ Do not know how to use technology tools and college email ◦ Do not complete assignments on time CUNY IT Conference 20112

3. E-Learner’s Preparedness Motivation Personality Access to technology Technical skills and willingness/ability to learn new technology Study skills CUNY IT Conference 20113

4. Current York College Support Student self-assessment (http://www.york.cuny.edu/web4u)http://www.york.cuny.edu/web4u Study skills ( http://www.york.cuny.edu/it/acet/online-hybrid-course- support/study-skills-needed-for-success-in-online-or-hybrid-courses) http://www.york.cuny.edu/it/acet/online-hybrid-course- support/study-skills-needed-for-success-in-online-or-hybrid-courses Technology skills (http://www.york.cuny.edu/it/acet/online-hybrid- course-support/technological-skills-needed-to-take-online-hybrid-courses)http://www.york.cuny.edu/it/acet/online-hybrid- course-support/technological-skills-needed-to-take-online-hybrid-courses Online/hybrid course student orientation A letter to students who have enrolled in an online course sent out one week before the semester starts CUNY IT Conference 20114

5. The Issues No process to ensure that students do the self-assessment before registration No process to ensure that students participate in the orientation Many students do not use their York email The student support for online courses totally falls on the faculty who teach the courses Does this sound like your experience? CUNY IT Conference 20115

6. What Need to be Done Establish a mechanism: first-time online students have to do a self-assessment to determine if they are ready to take an online course before registration Establish a procedure to communicate with students at the registration When registering in an online course for the first time, a letter and an email are sent to the student right away. CUNY IT Conference 20116

7. What Need to be Done First-time online course students should be required to take the orientation (f2f or online) ◦ Understand what is involved ◦ Technical skills ◦ Study skills During the semester online students who are at-risk should be contacted to make sure they are on the right track CUNY IT Conference 20117

8. A System Approach Registrar’s Office IT support Library Advisement Center Academic support services Administration The University An integrated system CUNY IT Conference 20118

9. Middle States Guidelines Interregional Guidelines for the Evaluation of the Distance Education (Online Learning) ◦ The institution provides effective student and academic services to support students enrolled in the online learning offerings  Good web-based information to students  Online learning orientation program  Support services in appropriate formats  Students demonstrate proficiency in the use of electronic forms of learning resources CUNY IT Conference 20119

10. Middle States Guidelines (con’t)  Students in online learning programs have ready access to 24/7 tech support  Adequate access to learning resources, including library, information resources, etc.  The institution regularly evaluates the effectiveness of the academic and support services for online students and uses the results for improvement. http://www.msche.org/publications/Guidelines-for-the- Evaluation-of-Distance-Education.pdf CUNY IT Conference 201110

11. Research Students’ preparedness impacts their academic success and satisfaction http://sloanconsortium.org/conferences/2011/al n/ready-or-not-here-i-come-does-learner- readiness-impact-student-success Increase the success of online students http://www.vccaedu.org/inquiry/inquiry-spring- 2008/1-13-Harrell.html CUNY IT Conference 201111