1.
Online Learning:
Try it – You might like it!
Dennis White, Smart Start Program Coordinator
Linda Hubble, Senior Instructional Designer
Lisa Stepanovic, Senior Instructional Designer

2.
How is taking your first online course
like visiting Mall of America?

3.
Online Reality
• Retention in online courses is at least 10-20% lower
than in face-to-face courses.

4.
Ten Factors Affecting Retention in
Online Courses
1. Support services
2. Early submission of work with instructor feedback
3. Clearly stated student expectations before & throughout course
4. Student orientation
5. Relevancy and accuracy of course content and design
6. Faculty preparedness
7. Student locus of control
8. Age of students
9. Student participation
10. Social integration into cohort and peer-to-peer support
*K. Shanley, 2011

5.
Student Orientation
• It’s important that students have an
opportunity to experiment with the tools and
technology required for the class before the
critical elements of the class are introduced.

6.
Idea:
What if students learn the technical skills
and decide if online learning is a fit for them
before they sign up for an online course!

7.
What We Did at STLCC
• Integrated an online learning experience into
our Smart Start Student Success course.
• Three components:
1. Course Navigation tutorial
2. Blackboard Orientation
3. Online Learning Week

8.
Purpose of Smart Start Student Success
• The Smart Start Student Success course is
designed to enhance students’ knowledge,
behaviors, and skills needed for successful
transition to college.

9.
Who Are Smart Start Students?
• Those who test into Developmental Reading
and/or English – co-requisite requirement
• Anybody else – optional
• Academic probation – per counselor
recommendation

10.
Smart Start
274 Sections since F12
6,268 students
Course Themes
Know Yourself
Know Your Environment
Plan, Monitor & Adjust
Online Experience
•Piloted Spring 2013
•Rolled out to all sections
Fall 2013

11.
Why We Added an Online Component
• 45% of all students will take at least one online
course.
• Nearly all instructors use an LMS to some extent.
• Using technology is critical to college success.
• Provides a “low stakes” opportunity to be an online
student.
• Helps students decide whether online courses might
be a good fit for them.

12.
Smart Start Technology Skill Acquisition
•
•
•
•
•
•
Week 1 – Begin LMS orientation
Week 2 – Take first online quiz
Week 3 – Monitor grades and feedback
Week 5 – Submit an assignment online
Week 7 – Participate in an online discussion
Week 9 – Online Learning Experience

13.
Online Learning Experience
Module Design
•
•
•
•
Use existing Blackboard On-Demand videos
Supplement with STLCC-specific information
Not just button-pushing, but contextualized
Addresses common problems

14.
Orientation to STR 050 Navigation
1. Course Navigation tutorial
2. Blackboard Orientation
3. Online Learning Week

15.
Blackboard Orientation Embedded in STR 050
1. Course Navigation tutorial
2. Blackboard Orientation
3. Online Learning Week

16.
6 modules
6 modules

17.
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
4.
4.
Explanation
Explanation
Demonstration
Demonstration
Practice
Practice
Quiz
Quiz

18.
Online Week
• Course Navigation tutorial
• Blackboard Orientation tutorials
• Online Learning Week

19.
Student Participation Options
• independently off-campus
• independently from locations on campus (labs,
library, own laptops); instructor on campus
during scheduled class time
• in a computer classroom with instructor;
request help as needed

20.
I like online class
es because it
gives me time to
concentrate and
have more unde
rstanding.
I could access the
information and
assignments anywhere
– I loved it!
. I learn better
nd it challenging
I fi
rson helping
ith a physical pe
w
me.
Student Feedback
Loved the flexibility,
interaction and the
plan layout.
I liked the discussion
board the most. It was a
good way to
communicate.
Keeping up with the
online conversations
during the week was
challenging.
If I knew
h ow t o t
ype
faster, it
would h
elp me
with the
assignm
ents.
I can tell
it re
of readin quires a lot
g and I h
reading. ate

21.
Some of my stu
dents decided to
try online classe
s; others decided
online wasn’t fo
r them.
My students were somewhat
frustrated with their online
experience, but reflecting on
it later, they thought they
might try an online class.
Instructor Feedback
Students adapted
easily to the online
class experience; I
hardly received any
calls.
My stud
ents
Smart St felt like their
a
prepared rt experience
them for
online cla a future
ss.
Many pe
ople assu
tradition
al studen me that
t s “kn
technolo
gy, but th ow” the
ey really
don’t.

22.
Expanding the Idea
• Integrate Smarter Measures tool
• Orientation for all students before they
register for an online course
• Smart Start 100 course- college-ready students
• Additional technology orientations:
– Student email
– Banner; midterm & final grades, financial aid

23.
How can you/have you applied
these ideas?

24.
Questions/Feedback