1. Increasing Success Rates in Online Learning Kathy Coleman, Chattahoochee Technical College

2. What is an online course?  Education that occurs online via computer.  Technology-based instruction in which students are at a location physically separated from their instructor during the entire course of study.  Method of learning outside of a typical classroom environment.

3. Growth Rate of Online Learning (Gupta, 2010)

4. Why Do Students Register for Online Courses?  Course flexibility and freedom to work at own pace  Reduce or eliminate commuting time to and from campus  Help students with learning/physical disabilities  Easy and constant access to course materials

5. What Skills Should Online Students Possess?  Ability to master material with minimal assistance.  Have time/resources necessary for demands of course work.  Comfortable with use of email as a communication tool.  Self-disciplined.  Ability to prioritize responsibilities.  Ability to work independently.  Ask for assistance when needed.

6. Help Students Make An Informed Decision  Many students sign up for an online course for the wrong reasons. o “Online is easier” o “I can turn things in whenever I want”  Help students identify whether they will succeed in an online format. o Survey Sample SurveySample Survey o Pretest o Orientation Sessions Orientation Sessions

7. Advantages of an online course  Reach a larger audience.  Decrease overcrowded classrooms.  Offer more classes at peak times.  Offer classes to students who have a schedule conflict.

8. Disadvantages of an online course  Difficult to motivate students.  Removes instructor from their comfort zone.  Different teaching practices from classroom environment.  No immediate response to questions.

9. Course Considerations for Online Instruction  Learner Support and Resources  Organization & Design in Learning Management System  Instructional Design & Delivery  Assessment & Evaluation of Student Learning  Innovative Teaching with Technology www.csuchico.edu (www.csuchico.edu)

10. Learner Support and Resources  Extensive information about being an online learner and links to campus resources. Sample ResourcesSample Resources  Provide an on-campus Orientation SessionOrientation Session  Contact information for instructor (syllabus and in LMS)  Access to a wide range of resources supporting course content (tutoring labs, e-books with videos)

11. Organization & Design in Learning Management System (LMS)  Course is well-organized and easy to navigate. ANGELANGEL  All web pages are visually and functionally consistent throughout the course.  Accessibility issues are addressed throughout the course.

12. Instructional Design & Delivery  Ample opportunities for interaction and communication student-to-student, student-to-instructor, and student to content. (Elluminate, Discussion Boards)  Multiple visual, textual, kinesthetic and/or auditory activities to enhance student learning (examples).  Numerous activities that help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills (projects).  Course goals are defined and aligned to learning objectives.

13. Assessment & Evaluation of Student Learning  Align learning objectives, instructional and assessment activities.  Multiple assessment strategies to measure content knowledge (exercises, tests, projects).  Regular/timely feedback about student performance.  Provide opportunity for self-assessments and peer feedback.

14. Innovative Teaching with Technology  Use a variety of technology tools to facilitate communication and learning. o Facebook o Skype o “The Cloud”  Effectively engage students in the learning process in a variety of ways throughout the course.

15. How do I keep online students motivated?  Reach out and offer suggestions. o Students will reply to your message more often than initiate contact on their own.  Ask what YOU can do to assist the student o Makes them feel less isolated. o Be PROACTIVE instead of reactive.  Emphasize the impact of withdrawing from the course o Will it delay your anticipated graduation date? o How will it affect GPA and financial aid status?

16. Despite Our Best Efforts  Students may not be successful because: o Personal Issues o Technical Issues o Taking Too Many Classes o Learning Style Requires Face-To-Face o Lack of basic skills (Reading Comprehension, Math, Reading)

17. Questions/Comments

18. Works Cited ROI: Rubric for Online Instruction. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2011, from www.csuchico.edu: http://www.csuchico.edu/celt/roi/rubric/idd.shtml http://www.csuchico.edu/celt/roi/rubric/idd.shtml Gupta, S. A. (2010). College Distance Education Courses: Evaluating Benefits and Costs from Institutional, Faculty and Students' Perspectives. Education, 130 (4), 616-631.