Lets Get It Started!
Start
1-30-2019 1:45 PM
End
1-30-2019 2:30 PM
Short Description
Job well begun is half done—getting online students off to a good start in online courses is crucial to their success. With a well-designed “Getting Started” area, students learn where to find the answers they need throughout the semester which cuts back on course management questions so you can then focus on the subject matter that you love to teach!
Abstract
Online courses are in demand but poor retention and completion rates continue to be an issue (Allen & Seaman, 2013; Boston, Ice, & Gibson, 2011; Lokken, 2017). This poster presentation is intended to help higher education faculty teaching online courses to develop a “Start Here” area in their online course management website which will lead students step by step through the essential information they need. Breaking down syllabi information into its essentials with active links for additional information gives students bite sized blocks of necessary information on demand in one easy to find area on their learning management system. This poster presentation provides a useful guide on how to implement a “Start Here” section as suggested by the Course Overview and Introduction General Standard of the QM Higher Education Rubric, Sixth Edition. This “Start Here” section includes information about how to navigate the course, basic information about the course, communication expectations, course and Institution policies, technology requirements, and introductions of the instructor and classmates. Using the content area on Brightspace D2L, I’ve developed a step by step the “Start Here” section that walks the new online student through the basic course management necessities that they need to get started and my course retention and successful completion rates have risen due to this intervention.
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Digital learning compass: Distance education enrollment report 2017. Babson Park, MA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://digitallearningcompass.org/
Boston, W. E., Ice, P., & Gibson, A. M. (2011). Comprehensive assessment of student retention in online learning environments. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 4(1). Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring141/boston_ice_gibson141.html
Lokken, F. (2017). Trends in elearning: Tracking the impact of elearning at community colleges. Washington, DC: Instructional Technology Council.
MarylandOnline, Inc. (2018). Quality matters rubric standards (6th ed). Quality Matters. Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/sites/default/files/PDFs/StandardsfromtheQMHigherEducationRubric.pdf
Format
Poster Session
Institutional level targeted
Higher Ed
Lets Get It Started!
Online courses are in demand but poor retention and completion rates continue to be an issue (Allen & Seaman, 2013; Boston, Ice, & Gibson, 2011; Lokken, 2017). This poster presentation is intended to help higher education faculty teaching online courses to develop a “Start Here” area in their online course management website which will lead students step by step through the essential information they need. Breaking down syllabi information into its essentials with active links for additional information gives students bite sized blocks of necessary information on demand in one easy to find area on their learning management system. This poster presentation provides a useful guide on how to implement a “Start Here” section as suggested by the Course Overview and Introduction General Standard of the QM Higher Education Rubric, Sixth Edition. This “Start Here” section includes information about how to navigate the course, basic information about the course, communication expectations, course and Institution policies, technology requirements, and introductions of the instructor and classmates. Using the content area on Brightspace D2L, I’ve developed a step by step the “Start Here” section that walks the new online student through the basic course management necessities that they need to get started and my course retention and successful completion rates have risen due to this intervention.
Allen, I. E., & Seaman, J. (2017). Digital learning compass: Distance education enrollment report 2017. Babson Park, MA: Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved from http://digitallearningcompass.org/
Boston, W. E., Ice, P., & Gibson, A. M. (2011). Comprehensive assessment of student retention in online learning environments. Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 4(1). Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~distance/ojdla/spring141/boston_ice_gibson141.html
Lokken, F. (2017). Trends in elearning: Tracking the impact of elearning at community colleges. Washington, DC: Instructional Technology Council.
MarylandOnline, Inc. (2018). Quality matters rubric standards (6th ed). Quality Matters. Retrieved from https://www.qualitymatters.org/sites/default/files/PDFs/StandardsfromtheQMHigherEducationRubric.pdf