READI WCET Presentation

Using Learner Readiness to Improve Online Student Retention
Julie Owen, eLearningToolBox.com
Christine Lustik, Western Wyoming Community College

Introduction
Online Student Retention – so many areas to think about!
How is online student support perceived by institutions?
Technology help? Who’s job is it to intervene or plan online student support?
Why do students and institutions struggle?
Myths/Preconceptions online students may have.
What students are in danger?
Why should we intervene, continue trying to provide support?
How can we intervene and help some student population?
Interventions? Support? Remediation? Tools?

Online Student Retention
Faculty Development
Student Preparation
Institution-wide Procedures
Adapting New Technologies
Course Design
Student Support Services
Data Collection/Reporting

How is Online Support Viewed by Institutions?
Who in your institution develops tools/plans for online student success?
Distance Education Department?
Retention Committee?
Student services or academic services?
Faculty?
Who do online students call?
Who contacts online students when they register?

Myths/Preconceptions
Students
Misconceptions about distance learning
Unrealistic view of personal strengths and weaknesses
Communication challenges
Need assistance to help them be successful
Schools
Struggle with poor retention rates in distance learning
Very little knowledge of student’s abilities in regards to learning from a distance – not covered on ACT, SAT, college app, or traditional placement tests
Communication challenges
Need information about their distance learners to effectively plan and deliver online courses
Are responsible for knowing how to help their students

Possible Interventions - WWCC
Prior to Class
Info in Schedule
Intro to Online Course
1 credit, 8 weeks or shorter
Mail letter to each student that registers
Username, password, email, directions to login, help desk info, AND demo course information
Demo Course anyone can access
w/READI Assessment
At beginning of online class experience
Use of demo course and READI in introductory weeks/discussions

How can tools like READI help?
What READI does for Students
Helps dispel misconceptions about distance learning
Bridges gap between student’s perceptions of distance learning and the reality of it.
Gives clear, rich feedback in multiple forms to a student about his/her strengths and opportunities for growth.
Opens dialogue between student and administrator
Offers remedial tools and suggestive helpful feedback text
What READI does for Institutions
Flags students who are at risk and signals strong students.
Provides clear, defined, easy-to-read scoring of student’s strong points and areas of weakness.
Opens dialogue between student and administrator.
Provides valuable insight to learning styles, attributes, and skills that should be considered in developing and delivering online classes.
Assists administrators as they plan for future student services.

Where do schools use READI?

READI Student Test and Report
Can be provided to all students or used through faculty.

Results Reported in School’s Interface

Color Coded Results

Graphical Results

Reporting National Averages is an Option

Tabbed Sections of the Report

Free Resources Provided for Each Section
Schools can Provide Info AboutTheir Own Resources

Detailed Info On Each Learning Style

Results Graphically, Textually and NumericallyReported

READI Administrative Panel
Can be used by faculty and staff who are reviewing the student’s READI scores.
http://admin.readi.info

Usage Metrics

Results At A Glance

Types of Support- Sharing Time!
What tools or other intervention ideas has your institution used to help support/prepare online students?

Review
Skills students need to succeed online…
Who supports the online students…
Possible ideas/tools we can use….

Contact Information
Julie Owen, Secondary Education Account Manager/Marketing
(334) 356 8353
Julie@eLearningToolBox.com
Christine Lustik, Director of Distance Education
(307) 382-1757
clustik@wwcc.wy.edu

READI WCET Presentation

by WCET on Oct 26, 2009

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READI WCET Presentation — Presentation Transcript