1. Foundations of Excellence: Support Services for Online Learning Midwest Regional Conference, 2005 Chicago, Illinois Presenters: Diane Dates Casey Jan Engle Paul Blobaum © Diane Dates Casey 2005 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.

3. Governors State University Non-residential Upper division programs Upper division programs Adult students Adult students Tradition of distance education Tradition of distance education

4. In the Beginning… Created Faculty Technology Lab Adopted WebCT Online courses randomly developed “Do it yourself” approach Library e-reserves

5. Strategic Initiative

6. Implementation of fee Evolution of the Online Learning Initiative Creation of Center for Online Teaching and Learning Expansion of Library role

7. Center for Online Teaching and Learning at Governors State University

8. Center for Online Teaching and Learning Faculty Development and Support Student Support

9. Faculty Development Training Consulting and Support

10. Three “Levels” of Faculty Web-enhancing on-ground courses Developing/delivering fully-online courses Facilitating existing online courses (no development)

11. Faculty Training WebCT “Basic Training” –Tools –Targets new faculty who are web-enhancing courses –Pedagogical issues related to providing a web presence for on-ground courses.

12. Faculty Training Moving from web-enhanced to fully online courses –Faculty developing fully-online or hybrid courses –Focuses primarily on pedagogical issues and design strategies

13. Faculty Training Facilitating Online Courses –Focus on faculty who will be facilitating online courses that have already been developed Lecturers Adjunct faculty –Teaching strategies for online facilitation –WebCT tools required by facilitators

14. Faculty Training Face-to-Face Workshop Online Training WebCT “Basic Training”Xx Moving From On-Ground to Online Xx Facilitating Online Courses x Currently offer training in both face-to-face and online formats. Moving toward an emphasis on self-paced online training.

15. Student Support

16. Problem: Students were trying to take online courses without developing online learning skills or understanding how course tools work. The Help Desk was regularly receiving calls and email from frustrated students, or students simply dropped out of class.

17. Solution: Make three levels of training available: 1.Login page tutorials. 2.WebCT Pre-Course 3.Two credit “Introduction to Online Learning” Course.

18. WebCT Login page: Resources for new online learners who: 1)Are considering Taking an Online Course 2)Have already registered for their First Online Course 3)Need to access the library, student services, and other important University information online.

19. WebCT Precourse A free, non-credit ‘Pre-course’ is available to all students taking online courses Begins two weeks prior to start of trimester Provides opportunity for students to learn and use WebCT tools prior to their courses going ‘live’ Pre-course is facilitated to answer student questions and provide assistance with any problems they encounter

20. “Introduction to Online Learning” Two-Credit Course Goes beyond the identification and use of Course Tools to develop skills and strategies for Online research Collaborative learning Collaborative conferencing and communication skills.

21. So now the Help Desk... Can be used when students have exhausted other, online resources. An online link to GSU support enables students to get individual answers to questions they may have.

22. Let’s take a look at some of the faculty and student resources we’ve just talked about: At our Login page: http://webct.govst.eduhttp://webct.govst.edu User id: educause Password: educause

23. Governors State University Library Paul Blobaum University Professor Health Professions Librarian

24. University Library 1999 – First online databases 2001 - Distance Learning Strategic Plan Move beyond knowledge based services

25. http://www.govst.edu/library Faculty Support Librarians partner with faculty to develop content eReserves Request forms Subject Librarian pages Coordination of Elluminate

26. http://www.govst.edu/library Innovative Student Support Services Virtual Library Services page Viewlets on navigating the library web page, renewing a book, etc. webCT Support from WebCT page Ask A Librarian service Online demonstration www.govst.edu/librarywww.govst.edu/library

27. Outcomes Developed programs Improved ancillary services for online students Increased support to faculty developing and teaching online and hybrid courses

28. Relevance to Other Institutions Innovative approach to providing financial resources Value-added benefit of university-wide approach