Recruiting and Orienting Distance Ed Students

Presented by Beth Hale and Marcia Arthur,

Renton Technical College

Summer Institute, July 2004

Recruiting Students

Identify your target audience.

Narrowing your audience will help you decide how and where to reach them

THESE SHOULD

CORRESPOND

TARGET-AUDIENCE NEEDS AND

SKILL LEVELS

COURSE GOALS AND STRUCTURE

CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES

AND REQUIREMENT

S

COURSE GOALS AND STRUCTURE

Do the course goals match the learning goals of the target audience?Have you identified the reasons for using distance education? (access or intensity)Do the course structure and requirements match the access and time demands of your audience?

CURRICULUM OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

Do the curriculum objectives match the course goals?Are the curriculum objectives at the right learning level for your audience?What technical skills and computer equipment does the curriculum require from the student?

TARGET-AUDIENCE NEEDS AND SKILL LEVELS

What are their educational needs and goals? Are there time and transportation constraints for students? Can students access and use technology? Do students have the academic background for the curriculum content?

Ways to Recruit Students:

•Mailing to waiting list or other targeted list

•Brochures in registration and advising

•Post flyers and posters in community

•Announcement or ad in school catalogue

•Word-of-mouth and outreach

•WorkSource, caseworker or other service agency referral

•Advertise in newspaper or radio

•Online advertising or listing

•Partner with outside agency or employer

Possible Partnering Organizations:

•Local businesses and employers

•Housing authorities and housing projects

•Veteran’s organizations

•Unions

•One-stop career and job training centers

•Head Start and Even Start programs

•Church organizations

•Social service agencies

•Homeless shelters

•Public libraries

•Senior citizens’ centers

Orienting Students

Reasons for Orienting Distance Ed Students:

•Intake and CASAS testing

•Assess technical preparedness

•Assess academic skill level

•Provide course info and expectations

•Prepare students for online learning

•Build rapport and community

What to include in a distance education orientation:

•CASAS testing

•WABERS/Intake forms

•Computer skills assessment

•Computer access & equipment info

•Email account

•Characteristics of successful online learners

•Tour of campus computer lab or library computers

•Course overview and information

•Log-in and orientation to online curriculum

Ways to Deliver an Orientation:

•Face-2-face

•Conduct testing as separate process

•Telephone

•Postal mail

•Online

•Combination of the above