Central Piedmont Community College

1. CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS for Online Students in English 111 and 112:The Students’ PerspectiveDecember, 2010 Central Piedmont Community College

2. Overview of Student Focus Groups • Facilitator training provided by ATD Data Facilitator, Dr. Ken Gonzalez, and Eva Mejia • November 15 & 17, 2010 • Online Students in ENG 111 and 112 • N = 33 students (avg. of 5.5 per focus group) • Trained facilitators: Laura Bazan, Amanda Capobianchi, Brantlee Drake, Tony Jones and Denise Wells

3. The Challenges • Legend: • Blue Boxes = 4 out of 5 Focus Group Responses • Orange Boxes = 3 out of 5 Focus Group Responses

4. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Course Expectations (specifically: have to teach yourself, differences in course format between instructors, lack of same structure and assignments, the amount and difficulty of the course work compared to traditional classes, understanding the expected format and length of assignments/papers) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Give only 2-3 assignments per week • Be more clear in explaining assignments • Make workload = to traditional courses • Allow more time for assignments • Organize class better • Have students only read key points of reading assignments • Use live video footage for lectures • Assign less work when a big assignment is due • Tutoring • Online Help • Academic Learning Center • Depends on the teacher • Access the instructor/email at the start of class • Talk to other students about instructors • Register early • Attend orientation • Read through the pages and click through the course • Study • Revise your notes before the next day • Ask instructors and tutors for help/clarity • Get a planner/plan your day • Require instructors to have office hours • Create open labs that could attend optionally • Standardize course format of classes for consistency • Put on CPCC website a way for students to check is going to teach the class • Put the instructor’s name on the class as early as possible

5. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Course Expectations Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Pace yourself • Know what to look for in the reading • Use spare time for additional reading and writing • Review the weekly schedule

6. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Clarity of Assignments (specifically: knowing assignment timelines/due dates, understanding what the assignments are, no one to ask right away for clarification on assignments, changes to syllabus during the semester, assignments can be in more than one place on BB) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Be sure and erase BB shells from previous class – causes confusion as to what is expected and due dates • Provide more specific instructions • Put all assignments under one tab • Making assignments due by midnight on Sunday • Making all assignments due at the same time • Check assignments daily • Check with other students about teachers • Print weekly assignment schedule • Email instructor weekly/daily • Don’t wait until the last minute; work hard and early • Check every button on panel b/c assignments can be under different tabs • Standardize due dates for assignments • Department heads need to check assignments instructors are giving • Standardize assignments in classes

7. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Writing (specifically: not having multiple examples of good papers, knowing expectations of college-level work and academic format, writing essays and length of papers, understanding correct grammar and punctuation, coming back to school after a long time and forgetting grammar rules) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Establish an “A” paper database • Provide the MLA Style card • Be sure and cover required writing style formats • Offer online references/resources • Provide emails of tutors • Provide students with a book and quiz on grammar and punctuation • Post a grammar list on BB • Give students a chance to improve • Some teachers provide examples of good papers • Classes provided by the Library • Website on plagiarism • Websites provided by some instructors • Ask instructors for examples of good papers • Ask other students who got good grades to share their papers • Get an MLA Style Sheet card • Research grammar and formats on your own and in advance • Use MS Word auto formats (with caution) • Keep your software up to date • Reference websites such as www.easybib.com • Include required writing style formats in ENG 090 and ACA classes • Make tutors more available/easier to find

8. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Writing Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Read topics and assignments in advance • Have a friend/relative proofread your papers • Send drafts of papers to instructors and ask for feedback • Speak with good grammar • Keep a Rules for Writers book

9. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Technology (specifically: technical problems on the weekends, knowing how to use BB, BB not user-friendly, not being able to access BB or CPCC email from PDA, assignments closing out earlier than planned, computer/internet access, cost of software, using 2 LMS’) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Make assignments due when someone can be reached • Allow extensions on assignments if computer goes down • Instructors accept late assignments due to technical difficulties with email validation • BB Classes • ACA 111 • Instructors leaving assignments open through midnight • Computer labs at different campuses • When teacher is knowledgeable about BB • When instructor provides an introduction and overview of BB • Email instructor ASAP and let him/her know that you tried to submit an assignment • Attach assignments to emails to instructor • Turn assignments in early • Go to BB online tutorial • Take ACA Classes • Learn how to use a computer • Ask for help • Click through everything • Create a BB Class for students • Offer BB workshop for students • Make BB and CPCC email accessible on PDA • Offer training to instructors in BB • Standardize classes so that all instructors use the same format

10. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Technology Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Use help tab • Take online orientation class • Forward student email to personal email accounts • Use computer labs at school • Use the library • Use Works Cited

11. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Discussion Boards (specifically: being graded on responses to other students’ posts, using discussion board posts for attendance, having to reply to a lot of students, how to answer to questions, poor email etiquette by students and teachers, peer reviews) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Have a requirement to reply once or to one student instead • Assign topics that are not sensitive/keep them about mechanics instead of content • Encourage students • Short responses are acceptable by some teachers • Some teachers spell out acceptable guidelines • Respond in paragraph form with full sentences and correct grammar and spelling • Avoid teachers who use discussion board posts for attendance • Have a better response than “I agree” • Make sure you have knowledge of the material before you respond • Wait until closer to the day the assignment is due to respond • Eliminate discussion boards • Eliminate using discussion boards for attendance • Standardize rules

12. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Discussion Boards Cont’d What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Don’t read replies from students • Don’t take it personal • Be sensitive/polite • Be professional/ stay on topic • Stick to your answer • Check the day it’s due

13. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Time Management (specifically: procrastination, staying on track day-to-day, working on your own time/schedule, finding the time with work and family demands, online course is more fast-paced and less structured) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Give students planners • Don’t assign homework during the holidays • Be more motivating to students • Provide tips on how to be disciplined • ACA • Instructor’s weekly schedule • When teachers provide time management tips • Set a schedule for yourself • Print out the schedule of what’s due that week • Develop priorities and deadlines • Plan/work ahead • Be protective of your time • Turn off your phone/set reminders on phone • Go to the Library/work in a quiet place • Ask for help • Teach instructors how to use a technology scheduling tool to help students • Keep labs open 24 hours

14. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Self Discipline (specifically: motivation, not doing optional work. knowing when to check for new assignments, getting into the habit of checking BB daily if it is your first online course, sitting in front of the computer all day, staying focused) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Send reminder emails • Break assignments into pieces • Make optional assignments required if its going to benefit the students • Give extra credit for optional work • Make all assignments due at the end of the semester • Give one week for assignments to be due • Educate students about demands online classes • ACA 111 and 118 classes • Computer labs • Email • Library • When instructors send reminders • Make a schedule for yourself/ set out special blocks of time for class • Get organized • Check BB daily • Learn how to use a PC • Go to a computer lab to do your work • Set reminders on your cell phone • Check BB when you check email and FB • Keep your eye on the prize at the end • Do the optional work • Take ACA classes • Offer self-motivation classes for online students • Offer more ACA classes • Make ACA classes mandatory • Require instructors to have consistent post and due dates • Offer free breakfast and coffee • Offer a live chat room where students could just discuss school work • Require instructors to send reminder emails

15. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Instructor Feedback (specifically: lack of feedback/not knowing why you received the grade, inappropriate feedback, quality and timely feedback – especially regarding grades on assignments because don’t know what to fix) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Provide comments with grades • Assign grades before the next assignment is due • Post syllabus online and provide due dates for all assignments • Check email daily/provide timely responses • Get an assistant to help with grading • Provide feedback on draft essays • Ask teacher for feedback • Ask teacher what you can do to improve next time • Ask what you should avoid next time • Ask peers for help • Check discussion board • Don’t wait until the last minute to do assignments or ask the instructor questions should problems arise • Ask other students about instructors • See dept. head • Require instructors to reply to student emails within 24 hours • Require instructors to have office hours • Set required deadlines for grading • Accelerate the grading deadline for short sessions • Mandatory posting of all assignments

16. Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students Challenges with Connecting with Instructors (specifically: instructor and student schedules not lining up, communicating with the instructor, lack of contact info/not knowing how to get in touch with them, not having/getting live conversations with instructors) What Students Can Do What CPCC Can Do What Instructors Can Do What Currently Works • Utilize webinars/webcams • Utilize live /virtual chat sessions • Lecture online • Introduce yourself • When teachers provide their phone numbers • When instructor contact info. is listed in BB/on syllabus • Voice recordings • When teacher is compassionate to the challenges of students • Email instructors right away when difficulties or disagreements arise • Email the instructor at the start of the class/ set up appt. • Try to communicate with the instructor regularly • Ask for expectations regarding level of response • Use the subject line and correct grammar when emailing instructors • Talk to other students/seek peer interaction • Require teachers to respond to students within 24 hours • Require office hours • Require instructors to hold at least one face-to-face meeting with the student • Hold instructors accountable

17. Next Steps: Moving from Data to Strategies

18. Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies

19. Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies

20. Questions or comments? Thank you for your time!