This document discusses building community through ANGEL, an online resource center at Northeast Center. It provides reflections on current uses of ANGEL, best practices for using technology in academic support, and an inside look at the ANGEL Community Group. The group started as a repository for academic support materials and has grown to include a comprehensive range of resources. It is utilized by students, staff, and faculty, and there are hopes for it to become more interactive. The document also outlines considerations for staffing, resources, assessment, and evaluating the group.

1. Building CommunityBuilding Community
through ANGELthrough ANGEL
Resources, Reflections & Best Practices forResources, Reflections & Best Practices for
Students, Professional Employees, & FacultyStudents, Professional Employees, & Faculty
Presented @ All College, 2008
By Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein & Joan Johnsen
Northeast Center

2. AgendaAgenda
► REFLECTIONSREFLECTIONS
 What we are doing with ANGEL at NECWhat we are doing with ANGEL at NEC
 Learning by doing – meeting one need & seeing otherLearning by doing – meeting one need & seeing other
possibilitiespossibilities
► BEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICES
 Technology TrendsTechnology Trends
 Theories & Best Practices in Academic SupportTheories & Best Practices in Academic Support
► RESOURCES & BUILDING COMMUNITYRESOURCES & BUILDING COMMUNITY
 ANGEL Community Group – A look insideANGEL Community Group – A look inside
 What you can do with your studentsWhat you can do with your students

3. ANGEL Community GroupANGEL Community Group
► How it started… NEC Academic SupportHow it started… NEC Academic Support
 Online repository of academic support workshop materialsOnline repository of academic support workshop materials
► What it is now…What it is now…
 Comprehensive range of resources, weblinks,Comprehensive range of resources, weblinks,
presentations, & discussion forums designed to support &presentations, & discussion forums designed to support &
enhance NEC students' successenhance NEC students' success
 Utilized by students, staff, & facultyUtilized by students, staff, & faculty
► What it might become…What it might become…
 We’re not sure…We’re not sure…
 What we hope for is all of the above PLUS…What we hope for is all of the above PLUS…
► An interactive meeting place for students, faculty & staffAn interactive meeting place for students, faculty & staff
► Creation of materials by students & facultyCreation of materials by students & faculty

4. Technology RealitiesTechnology Realities
HIGHER EDUCATION – IN GENERALHIGHER EDUCATION – IN GENERAL
► Colleges are exploring, integrating & infusingColleges are exploring, integrating & infusing
technology into every aspect of the collegetechnology into every aspect of the college
experience – wikis, podcasts, course managementexperience – wikis, podcasts, course management
systems (ie. ANGEL), video.systems (ie. ANGEL), video.
► Feb 2006: Apple estimated that all new collegeFeb 2006: Apple estimated that all new college
students, regardless of age or institution, own anstudents, regardless of age or institution, own an
average of 1.3 iPods or other MP3 device.average of 1.3 iPods or other MP3 device.
► 85.1% of today’s college students prefer e-mail for85.1% of today’s college students prefer e-mail for
official college & university communications.*official college & university communications.*
► In both cases, 76% of college students ages 30 &In both cases, 76% of college students ages 30 &
older & ages 25-29 have broadband access.*older & ages 25-29 have broadband access.*
SOURCE : * Educause

5. Technology RealitiesTechnology Realities
EMPIRE STATE COLLEGEEMPIRE STATE COLLEGE
► ANGEL – available to support not just CDL but allANGEL – available to support not just CDL but all
Empire State College studies in blended as well asEmpire State College studies in blended as well as
online versions.online versions.
► Empire State College has a Second Life island &Empire State College has a Second Life island &
Facebook presence.Facebook presence.
► New students, staff & faculty are coming in withNew students, staff & faculty are coming in with
technology expectations (e-mail, Internet, & othertechnology expectations (e-mail, Internet, & other
modes of digital communication & multimedia) as partmodes of digital communication & multimedia) as part
of a college learning environment.of a college learning environment.
End ResultEnd Result -- Empire State College needs to adapt &-- Empire State College needs to adapt &
be on the cutting edge of learning support withbe on the cutting edge of learning support with
technology as a way to enhance & engage studentstechnology as a way to enhance & engage students
in the learning process.in the learning process.

6. Best Practices in Using TechnologyBest Practices in Using Technology
to Support Students…to Support Students…
► Pedagogy & Learning TheoriesPedagogy & Learning Theories DRIVEDRIVE technology use intechnology use in
academic support services not the other way around.academic support services not the other way around.
► Certain technologies can enhance learning…Certain technologies can enhance learning…
 BENEFITS to LEARNERSBENEFITS to LEARNERS
Need for learning that is flexible, accessible, & tailored to a variety of learningNeed for learning that is flexible, accessible, & tailored to a variety of learning
preferences so students have choice – focusing on their interests and/orpreferences so students have choice – focusing on their interests and/or
learning preferences.learning preferences.
 BENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & OFFICE of ACADEMICBENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & OFFICE of ACADEMIC
SUPPORT OFFICESUPPORT OFFICE
Beneficial in both face-2-face & technology enhanced mediums. One does notBeneficial in both face-2-face & technology enhanced mediums. One does not
necessarily have to replace the other – center & college missions as well asnecessarily have to replace the other – center & college missions as well as
learner needs drive the blended use of these learning engagements.learner needs drive the blended use of these learning engagements.
 BENEFITS to ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFFBENEFITS to ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFF
Maximize resources – human & time, training options open up, F2F interactionsMaximize resources – human & time, training options open up, F2F interactions
can take on depth when students come into the center having gone over thecan take on depth when students come into the center having gone over the
“basics”“basics”

7. Successful academic support services include…Successful academic support services include…
► Proactive interventions.Proactive interventions.
► Supportive environments.Supportive environments.
► Personalized support systems.Personalized support systems.
► Small group tutorials.Small group tutorials.
► Development of students’ basic learning skills,Development of students’ basic learning skills,
► Teaching of study skills & learning strategies in the contextTeaching of study skills & learning strategies in the context
of academic content courses.of academic content courses.
► Opportunities to interact in informal settings & developOpportunities to interact in informal settings & develop
personal relationships with faculty.personal relationships with faculty.
► Opportunities to experience success.Opportunities to experience success.
-- Adapted from Martha Maxwell (1997)Adapted from Martha Maxwell (1997) Improving Student Learning SkillsImproving Student Learning Skills & Casazza && Casazza &
Silverman (1996)Silverman (1996) Learning Assistance & Developmental EducationLearning Assistance & Developmental Education

8. MISSION & GOALSMISSION & GOALS
STUDENTS’ SKILLS & NEEDSSTUDENTS’ SKILLS & NEEDS
CREATINGCREATING
PROGRAMSPROGRAMS
&&
SERVICESSERVICES
STAFFING
&
STAFFING
&
RESOURCES
RESOURCES
ASSESSMENT
ASSESSMENT
&&
EVALUATION
EVALUATION
Academic Support
Services Model...
Created by Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein
& Johanna Dvorak (2004)

9. Assessing Students: Skills & NeedsAssessing Students: Skills & Needs
““College is not just for the creative or the really smart people.College is not just for the creative or the really smart people.
It is for ordinary folks who want to improve their lives.” *It is for ordinary folks who want to improve their lives.” *
► Application Review ProcessApplication Review Process
 Proactive interventions with DAS, writing study, etc.Proactive interventions with DAS, writing study, etc.
► Orientation – essay, learning styles, prior learningOrientation – essay, learning styles, prior learning
assessment & academic skill self-reportassessment & academic skill self-report
► Faculty assessment of students – individually & collectivelyFaculty assessment of students – individually & collectively
► Student self-referralStudent self-referral
► Workshop evaluation forms & other student feedbackWorkshop evaluation forms & other student feedback
NEC needs & goals for reaching studentsNEC needs & goals for reaching students
► Access to information for all students @Access to information for all students @ all levelsall levels
► Information available 24/7Information available 24/7
► Connect better with unit studentsConnect better with unit students
* From 100 Things Every Adult College Student Ought to Know

10. Assessing the College:
Mission & Goals
The Mission of Empire State College
► Empire State College enables motivated adults, regardless of geographyregardless of geography or lifelife
circumstancecircumstance, to design a rigorousrigorous,, individualizedindividualized academic program & earn a college
degree.
The Commitments of Empire State College
► To support self-directedself-directed, intellectually curious learnerscurious learners who collaboratecollaborate with faculty
mentors.
► To document, evaluate & award credit for an adult’s prior college-level life learning.
► To offer each student an array of learning experiencesarray of learning experiences through independent study,
seminars, short-term residencies, & online courses.
► To develop, implement & assess new approaches to learning that recognize thenew approaches to learning that recognize the
strengths & needs of adult learnersstrengths & needs of adult learners.
► To provide access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state &access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York state &
abroad, & through the World Wide Webabroad, & through the World Wide Web.
► To expand degree opportunities for adult learners through partnerships with employers &
unions, government agencies & the armed forces, and community organizations &
educational institutions.

11. Enrolled
Concurred
DP
Prospects
Info Session Attendees
Applicants
Accepted Students
Oriented
Recruiters, Secretary to Recruitment, SSPs
ALL mentors, PEs, Support Staff, & Recruiters
Review Committee – Dean, SSP, DAS, Writing Mentor
SSP, DAS, OCAR, Deans, Mentors
ALL
Admissions & Recruiters
Graduation
Northeast CenterNortheast Center
Student Funnel/Engagement CycleStudent Funnel/Engagement Cycle
RESOURCES FOR ALLRESOURCES FOR ALL
ENROLLED STUDENTSENROLLED STUDENTS
Datebook – SchoolDatebooks.com
Primary mentors, SSP, Office Manager
DAS – Academic Support Workshops,
Individual Consultation, Studies
Assessment Specialist – Portfolio
Workshops
ANGEL Community Group
OCAR &
Committee

12. CREATING PROGRAMS & SERVICESCREATING PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Academic Support = StudentAcademic Support = Student SupportSupport
► Merging college mission & goals with students’ needs & skillsMerging college mission & goals with students’ needs & skills
 regardless of geographyregardless of geography or life circumstancelife circumstance – students
can have access 24/7 - ANGEL is available to all NEC students
as a community group
 individualized, self-directedindividualized, self-directed, curious learnerscurious learners – students
self-select what they want or be directed to what they need
 collaboratecollaborate with faculty mentors in the creation, use, &
assessment of resources
 array of learning experiencesarray of learning experiences – allows for multimedia,
interaction, discussion, & enhancements to workshop content
 new approaches to learning that recognize thenew approaches to learning that recognize the
strengths & needs of adult learnersstrengths & needs of adult learners – can review at their
own time & own pace, access to resources for unit students is
enhanced, & access to self-assessments

13. STAFFING & RESOURCESSTAFFING & RESOURCES
► Started as an online repository of academic supportStarted as an online repository of academic support
workshop materialsworkshop materials
► Student services materials then were addedStudent services materials then were added
► PLA & degree planning resources were addedPLA & degree planning resources were added
► Collaborative effort of PEs & faculty helping to grow theCollaborative effort of PEs & faculty helping to grow the
space both in terms of content & how the group is usedspace both in terms of content & how the group is used
► Training & access to the space available to all NECTraining & access to the space available to all NEC
employees from support staff through Deanemployees from support staff through Dean
► FUTURE – co-creation of materials with students,FUTURE – co-creation of materials with students,
networking, peer-tutoring, & so much more…networking, peer-tutoring, & so much more…

14. Assessment & EvaluationAssessment & Evaluation
► Actively seeking student, faculty, PE, & support staff inputActively seeking student, faculty, PE, & support staff input
as site is developing – Center meetings, study groups,as site is developing – Center meetings, study groups,
workshops, etc.workshops, etc.
► Template development & “retro-fitting” – consistency &Template development & “retro-fitting” – consistency &
ease of useease of use
► Each module will have an evaluation of the materials & askEach module will have an evaluation of the materials & ask
for suggestionsfor suggestions
► Usage reports to determine how & whoUsage reports to determine how & who
 Can more appropriately target resources based on demand, ask forCan more appropriately target resources based on demand, ask for
feedback, & seek input for other areas of interest/needfeedback, & seek input for other areas of interest/need