1. American Public University System
Culture Shock and Distance Education:
The W-Curve in Online Learning
Terry Grant, Vice President, Enrollment Management & Student Support, APUS
Jason Smith, Director of Undergraduate Admissions & Lifelong Learning, APUS
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

2. Agenda APUS – Who we are U-Curve – A Brief History W-Curve
As it pertains to traditional students
As it pertains to the distance learner
Implications
Student Support
Academics
Q&A

3. Who We Are
Two institutions, American Public University and American Military University
More than 100,000 distance learners studying online from 50 states and more than 100 countries
More than 150 degree and certificate programs
A tight-knit community of professors, staff, and students
Classes start on a monthly basis, unlike traditional universities. Courses start on the first Monday of every month.
Most classes are taught in both an 8-week or a 16-week format

4. Our Students Student Count: 100,000+
Class Distribution: 74% Undergraduate; 26% Graduate
Adult Learners: Most are working adults; Median Age 31 years
Military Status: 60% active duty, from all branches of service. 40% civilian and public safety
Prior Learning/ Experience: Most students have transfer credit from prior learning, other university coursework, or military experience; 94% transfer students
More than 40% of our graduates return to APUS for a second degree.

5. What is Culture Shock?
Culture Shock is generally known as a feeling of discomfort or disorientation that a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life.
Most of us will experience this at one point in our lifetime….

6. Lysgaard’s U-Curve Theory of Adjustment
Honeymoon
Adjustment
Recovery
Honeymoon – You’re fascinated by the new culture and excited about all the new interesting “sights and sounds”
Culture Shock – Period of disillusionment as you must seriously cope with living a new culture on a day-to-day basis.
Recovery – You gradually adapt to the new culture and learn how to behave appropriately.
Adjustment – You are effective in functioning in the new culture. Day-to-day tasks are secondhand.
Culture Shock
Lindner, 2011

7. Gullahorn (1963) – Study Abroad
An extension of the U-Curve
Adapted for Study Abroad
Re-Entry Cycle
University of Connecticut, 2011

8. W-Curve Transition Model
Acceptance
and Integration
Honeymoon
Initial Adjustment
Culture Shock
Mental Isolation
University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012

9. Zeller and Mosier (1993) – First-Year Students
An extension of Gullahorn’s W-Curve
Adapted for first-year college students
University of Minnesota Duluth, 2012

10. W-Curve in Distance Education
Can the W-Curve, which was initially applied to first-year college students in traditional campus settings, be applied to the experiences of students new to distance education?
We believe it can!

11. Distance Education W-Curve Stages
What does the journey look like for distance learners at each stage?
Honeymoon
Culture Shock
Initial Adjustment
Mental Isolation
Acceptance & Integration

12. Honeymoon and Culture Shock
Admission and program selection
New beginning
Shared excitement
Sense of urgency
Culture Shock
Fear of failure
Unfamiliar structure
Learning a new “virtual” language
Sense of being alone

13. Initial Adjustment & Mental Isolation
Developing comfort
Technical
Relationships
Academic
Doubt still exists
May join virtual communities
Mental Isolation
Life happens
Interruptions
Changes in work/life
Academic challenges
Lack of social interaction

14. Acceptance and Integration
Finally connect to students, faculty and staff
Integrated into the University culture
Sense of achievement
Have a clear goal in mind
Can visualize graduation and degree completion

15. Easing the W-Curve Transitions …
Student Support
Academics
Know your students
Hire good communicators
Create “hoopless” processes
Schedule routine , purposeful communications
Be proactive
Manage expectations from the beginning
Evaluate!
Hire faculty suited to online teaching
Faculty who are V.O.C.A.L
Set and maintain high standards for student/faculty communication
Check your program’s vital signs regularly
Manage expectations
Evaluate!

16. Key Points Culture shock happens
Distance Learning is not for all students
Ups and downs occur throughout the student lifecycle
Understand your student population
Manage expectations
Student success is everybody’s business

17. Questions

18. References
Lidner, M. (2011, April 7). Lysgaard’s U-Curve of Cultural Adjustment. Message posted to cultural-adjustment/
University of Connecticut Institute for Student Success. (2011). First year experience instructor manual. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from
University of Minnesota Duluth. (2012). First year experience & students in transition. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from /freshmen/transition/development/w_curve.htm