1. Great Starts: Effectively Orienting Your Distance Learners Virginia Kirk, Director, Distance Learning vkirk@howardcc.eduvkirk@howardcc.edu; Howard Community College Mary Wells, Director, Distance Learning mwells@pgcc.edumwells@pgcc.edu; Prince George’s Community College Maryland Community Colleges

2. Great Starts: Effectively Orienting Your Distance Learners Baltimore City Community College Carroll Community College Howard Community College Prince George’s Community Colleges Maryland Community Colleges

3. Why Is Orientation Important? Impacts Student Success/Retention Impacts Instructor Satisfaction Impacts Overall Quality of Your Distance Learning Program

4. Welcome Letter Your Welcome Letter –How/When To Send It –What Should It Include Examples http://academic.pgcc.edu/ole

5. What Should Be Included? Contact Instructors Contact Support Systems Procedures Required Skills Caveats

6. Required Study Skills What grades do you usually earn? Can you read/understand text? Can you meet deadlines

7. Required Technical Skills Access to a computer, email, Internet Able to navigate using the Internet Basic Computer Skills –Type –Use a mouse –Able to Cut, Copy and Paste text –Able to use email –Able to attach a file

8. Caveats NOT for every student More flexible, but NOT easier Must have time to work on courses Must be willing to do the work Must have access to technology –email –Internet

9. How Will You Orient Students? On-campus By Mail (snail or email) On the Web –Within Courses –With Sample Course Sites

10. What Information to Include? Study Skills Student Support How to Use the Course Platform

11. On-campus Individual Course Orientations General Sessions By Mail— Snail or Email

12. On the Web Within Courses With Sample Course Sites –http://www.bccc.edu/home/dzilberman/dlpresentation/O nline-Orientation-Pp.htmhttp://www.bccc.edu/home/dzilberman/dlpresentation/O nline-Orientation-Pp.htm –http://www.carrollcc.edu/blackboard/default.asphttp://www.carrollcc.edu/blackboard/default.asp –http://webct.howardcc.edu:8900http://webct.howardcc.edu:8900