Computer Skills Workshop for Incoming Community College Students

Aloha Computer Skills Workshop for Incoming Community College Students Leanne Urasaki University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Education Educational Technology Hawaii, USA Contact: lurasaki@hawaii.edu

Introduction Educational Specialist Hawaii Community College Hale Kea Advancement & Testing Center • Placement Testing • Testing for Distance Education courses • Open computer lab for student use

Life before computers… Memory was something you lost with age, a program was a TV show, a cursor used profanity, a keyboard was a piano, a web was a spider’s home, spam was a loved food in Hawaii, a virus was the flu, a CD was a bank account, a hard drive was a long trip on the road, a mouse was a rodent, and… a mouse pad was where mice lived.

Questions asked daily: • How do I attach files to email?

Questions asked daily: • How do I attach files toemail? • How do I _____? (word processing)

Questions asked daily: • How do I attach files to email? • How do I _____? (word processing) • How do find school information?

Questions asked daily: • How do I attach files to email? • How do I _____? (word processing) • How do find school information? • How do I save my work?

Questions asked daily: • How do I attach files to email? • How do I _____? (word processing) • How do find school information? • How do I save my work? • How do I download and print files?

Relevant Research What do colleges expect? • ability to use the computer is a basic skill for community college students(Zesotarski, 2000; Miller & Pope, 2003) • Hawaii CC expects all incoming students to use a computer and the Internet(Hawaii Community College, 2009)

Relevant Research What is the reality? • While technology education in K-12 has been mandated over the past decade, there are still students entering college without basic skills.(Hawkins & Oblinger, 2006) • Non-traditional students may not have had any prior technology education.(Hawkins & Oblinger, 2006)

Relevant Research Why is this important? • Students entering without basic computer skills may find it a barrier to their education, and the failure to address insufficient computer skills could affect a student’s ability to succeed to their fullest extent in college.(Sax, Ceja & Teranishi, as cited in Kaminski, Seel, & Cullen, 2003)

Project To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a basic computer skills workshop for incoming students with little or no experience using computers.

Context University of Hawaii • Universities (3) • Manoa • West Oahu • Hilo • Community Colleges (7) • Hawaii • Honolulu • Kapiolani • Kauai • Leeward • Maui • Winward

Context Population: Hawaii CC Students • Non-traditional students • First generation college students • Minority backgrounds

Context Population: Hawaii CC Students lower socio-economic backgrounds fewer computer owners rural environment limited/no Internet access

Target Audience Incoming Hawaii CC students with little or no experience using computers.

Web-based, integrated student information system.

MyUH • search available classes • register for classes • view, change schedule • school email • pay tuition and fees • view grades, transcripts • view academic progress • access Laulima • create and modify calendar • track campus and local news • get weather and movie info • view class rosters • financial aid information • monitor library account

Workshop Design • free • one day, 6 hour workshop • face-to-face • hands-on

Workshop Design • demonstration/lecture • student workbook • hands-on practice • skill checks

Participant Recruitment • interest flyer • recruitment interview

Participant Recruitment • interest flyer • 46 distributed • 38 (83%) responded

Participant Recruitment • interest flyer • 46 distributed • 38 (83%) responded • phone interview • 12 agreed to attend • 9 study participants

Participant Recruitment • change of date = low turnout

Participant Recruitment • change of date = low turnout • second workshop conducted = 2 participants

Participant Recruitment • change of date = low turnout • second workshop conducted = 2 participants • Total sample size = 4 participants

Data Collection • pre- and post-workshop surveys • post-workshop group interview • follow-up interview

Results

Results • importance of workshop for new students “(The workshop) is really important. It should be mandatory. Even if some student have (computer) skills, it’s good to brush up. Also, there are a lot of tools in MyUH…more than I thought.”

“I now understand the tools, and have even shown others (how to use them).” Results • application of skills learned

“I was very intimidated by MyUH but after this workshop I feel comfortable with it.” “I feel better about school, and now know some of the lingo.” Results • impact of workshop

Conclusions • gains in all topics and skills covered in the workshop with little or no loss in retention after 6 weeks • students felt better about their computer skills at college entry

Limitations small sample size

impact of early intervention efforts on retention and graduation rates Future Directions

impact of early intervention efforts on retention and graduation rates development of additional workshops covering additional topics Future Directions

impact of early intervention efforts on retention and graduation rates exploring other delivery methods to accommodate more students development of additional workshops covering additional topics Future Directions

Mahalo Computer Skills Workshop for Incoming Community College Students Questions? Leanne Urasaki email: lurasaki@hawaii.edu

Computer Skills Workshop for Incoming Community College Students

Computer Skills Workshop for Incoming Community College Students

Presentation Transcript