Using Desire2Learn to Build an Online Student...

9/23/2016

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Using Desire2Learn to Build an

Online Student Community

Using Desire2Learn to Build an

Online Student Community

Kalyn Williams & Amy Foley

UW-Platteville, NACADA 2016

Kalyn Williams & Amy Foley

UW-Platteville, NACADA 2016

Presentation AgendaPresentation Agenda

� About Us

� From Idea to Implementation:

� Defining the Issue

� Building the Community

� Getting the Word Out

� Community Tour

� Reflections

� Tips to Start Your Own Community

� About Us

� From Idea to Implementation:

� Defining the Issue

� Building the Community

� Getting the Word Out

� Community Tour

� Reflections

� Tips to Start Your Own Community

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About the PresentersAbout the Presenters

Amy Foley� Advising and Outreach Manager

� Community of Support Project Lead

� Advising Supervisor

Amy Foley� Advising and Outreach Manager

� Community of Support Project Lead

� Advising Supervisor

Kalyn Williams� Advisor, BS - Criminal Justice (BSCJ)

� Outreach, MS - Criminal Justice (MSCJ)

� Financial Aid Liaison

� CoS Content Team Lead

Kalyn Williams� Advisor, BS - Criminal Justice (BSCJ)

� Outreach, MS - Criminal Justice (MSCJ)

� Financial Aid Liaison

� CoS Content Team Lead

About UsAbout Us

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Online Education at UW-PlattevilleOnline Education at UW-Platteville

� Mission: The purpose of the Distance Learning Center is to provide centralized services to all faculty, staff, and students involved with distance education.

� Distance Learning Center (DLC)

� Operation as a "mini university“

� Liaisons with other departments

� Financial Aid

� Registrar

� VA/Military Benefits

� Cost Recovery

� Courses also available to on-campus students

� Mission: The purpose of the Distance Learning Center is to provide centralized services to all faculty, staff, and students involved with distance education.

� Distance Learning Center (DLC)

� Operation as a "mini university“

� Liaisons with other departments

� Financial Aid

� Registrar

� VA/Military Benefits

� Cost Recovery

� Courses also available to on-campus students

DLC DegreesDLC Degrees

� Undergraduate (BS)

� Criminal Justice

� Business Administration

� Graduate (MS)

� Project Management


� Integrated Supply Chain Management

� Engineering

� Organizational Change Leadership

� Undergraduate (BS)


� Business Administration

� Graduate (MS)

� Project Management



� Engineering

� Organizational Change Leadership

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Our Student PopulationOur Student Population

� 2400 students, 50/50 split undergrad/grad

� Mainly non-traditional

� Average age: 36

� Female: 42.8%

� Male: 57.2%

� Students of color: 14.9%

� Military/Veterans/Families Served: 32%

� Average credit load - undergrad: 5.8

� Average credit load - graduate: 4.8

� Students in 42 states, 23 countries

� 2400 students, 50/50 split undergrad/grad

� Mainly non-traditional

� Average age: 36

� Female: 42.8%

� Male: 57.2%

� Students of color: 14.9%

� Military/Veterans/Families Served: 32%

� Average credit load - undergrad: 5.8

� Average credit load - graduate: 4.8

� Students in 42 states, 23 countries

Our Advising ModelOur Advising Model

� Combination of developmental and prescriptive advising

� Advisors are trained and expected to adapt their style to the students’ needs at that time

� Proactive approach – lots of scheduled and unscheduled outreach

� Combination of developmental and prescriptive advising

� Advisors are trained and expected to adapt their style to the students’ needs at that time

� Proactive approach – lots of scheduled and unscheduled outreach

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From Idea to ImplementationFrom Idea to Implementation

Defining the IssueDefining the Issue

� SLOAN-C assessment

� Advisor feedback

� Student Services/Advising surveys

� Overall lack of student and alumni engagement

� SLOAN-C assessment

� Advisor feedback

� Student Services/Advising surveys

� Overall lack of student and alumni engagement

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Getting StartedGetting Started

� Original planning meetings in 2014

� Roadblocks

� Time commitment

� Moderation concerns

� $$$

� UW System Innovation Grant

� August 2015

� Applied for and received $20,000

� Original planning meetings in 2014

� Roadblocks

� Time commitment

� Moderation concerns

� $$$

� UW System Innovation Grant

� August 2015

� Applied for and received $20,000

BS – Business AdministrationBS – Business Administration

� Approximately 600 students, split between three advisors

� Three sections of the CoS

� Students complete an emphasis which aligns with their goals:

� Finance

� Sales & Marketing

� Management

� HR Management


� General Business

� Student goals and current jobs vary widely due to flexibility of the degree

� Approximately 600 students, split between three advisors

� Three sections of the CoS

� Students complete an emphasis which aligns with their goals:

� Finance

� Sales & Marketing

� Management

� HR Management


� General Business

� Student goals and current jobs vary widely due to flexibility of the degree

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BS – Criminal JusticeBS – Criminal Justice

� Approximately 175 students

� All advised by Kalyn, all in one section of the CoS

� Students fall into categories

� Policing (Officers, Dispatchers, etc.) – largest group

� Corrections (Prison guards, probation/parole)

� Social Work

� Not in the field currently but plans to go into one of the above

� Approximately 175 students

� All advised by Kalyn, all in one section of the CoS

� Students fall into categories

� Policing (Officers, Dispatchers, etc.) – largest group

� Corrections (Prison guards, probation/parole)

� Social Work

� Not in the field currently but plans to go into one of the above

The “Flow”The “Flow”

Advising

Intro to Online

Learning

Community of Support

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Purpose and Goals of the CoSPurpose and Goals of the CoS

PurposesPurposes

� Main: to create and curate a space for online undergrad students to interact with their peers and advisor outside of the courseroom.

� Secondary

� Serve as a tool in the advisor’s toolbox

� Another way to support online learners

� Encourage peer to peer relationships

� Main: to create and curate a space for online undergrad students to interact with their peers and advisor outside of the courseroom.

� Secondary

� Serve as a tool in the advisor’s toolbox

� Another way to support online learners

� Encourage peer to peer relationships

GoalsGoals

� Increase student engagement and retention.

� Identify student issues and concerns as early as possible.

� Help students feel that they are part of the larger peer and University community.

� Increase student engagement and retention.

� Identify student issues and concerns as early as possible.

� Help students feel that they are part of the larger peer and University community.

Creating a CommunityCreating a Community

� Development meetings - aggressive timeline!

� Breaking up the project

� Content/Instructional Design

� Communications

� Assessment/Survey

� SmarterMeasure

� Instructor/Desire2Learn training for advisors

� Determining which students are included

� Development meetings - aggressive timeline!

� Breaking up the project

� Content/Instructional Design

� Communications

� Assessment/Survey

� SmarterMeasure

� Instructor/Desire2Learn training for advisors

� Determining which students are included

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Pulling It All TogetherPulling It All Together

� Initial go-live of first two sections (CJ, ½ of Business) - early October, 2015

� SmarterMeasure

� Delays due to contracts and implementation

� Went live November 30, 2015

� Third section added February 2016 (2nd half of Business)

� Fourth section added September 2016 (Business split – new advisor on board)

� Initial go-live of first two sections (CJ, ½ of Business) - early October, 2015

� SmarterMeasure

� Delays due to contracts and implementation

� Went live November 30, 2015



Getting the Word OutGetting the Word Out

� Admission Packet Letter

� Email Communication – Formal and informal

� Postcards

� Word of mouth

� Out of Office Messages

� Admission Packet Letter

� Email Communication – Formal and informal

� Postcards

� Word of mouth

� Out of Office Messages

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Community of Support TourCommunity of Support Tour

What’s in the CoS?What’s in the CoS?

� News

� Content (FAQs, links to university resources)

� SmarterMeasure

� Discussion Boards

� News

� Content (FAQs, links to university resources)

� SmarterMeasure

� Discussion Boards

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CoS TourCoS Tour

ReflectionsReflections

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Measuring Success – By the NumbersMeasuring Success – By the Numbers

� 379 in original pilot sections, 547 now

� 315 have logged into the CoS at least once (57.58%)

� 70 discussion threads created, 3553 discussion post views

� 166 students read zero discussion posts

� 149 read posts – average of 23.85 posts per student

� 44 students visited content areas, average of 5.00 areas per student

� 379 in original pilot sections, 547 now

� 315 have logged into the CoS at least once (57.58%)

� 70 discussion threads created, 3553 discussion post views

� 166 students read zero discussion posts

� 149 read posts – average of 23.85 posts per student

� 44 students visited content areas, average of 5.00 areas per student

Business CoS BreakdownBusiness CoS Breakdown

StatsStats

� 200 of 393 students logged into the CoSat least one time (50.89%)

� 22 students viewed content areas (average 5.27 per student that viewed content)

� 95 students read at least one discussion (24.17%, read an average of 17 posts)

� 27 threads created

� 114 have logged in at least once since 8/1/16 (29.01%)

� 200 of 393 students logged into the CoSat least one time (50.89%)

� 22 students viewed content areas (average 5.27 per student that viewed content)

� 95 students read at least one discussion (24.17%, read an average of 17 posts)



Content VisitedContent Visited

Tech BSAD Resources Credit Eval Roles/Resp Other

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Criminal Justice CoS BreakdownCriminal Justice CoS Breakdown

StatsStats

� 116 of 155 logged in at least once (74.84%)

� 22 students viewed content areas (average of 6.55 per student)

� 54 students read at least one discussion post (average of 35.5)



� 116 of 155 logged in at least once (74.84%)

� 22 students viewed content areas (average of 6.55 per student)

� 54 students read at least one discussion post (average of 35.5)



Content VisitedContent Visited

Credit Eval Roles/Resp Textbooks

BSCJ Resources CJ Field Other

What It Means – In Their Own WordsWhat It Means – In Their Own Words

Ca

me

o • What I enjoyed the most about the Community of Support was the ability to have another way to communicate and connect with my students.

Ke

nd

all • I’m most looking

forward to being able to help students stay up to date with important announcements and exciting updates in the business world and to encourage students to connect with each other.

Sa

rah • The Community of

Support is a great resource for me and my students. It’s one central place for me to put information and for students to find information.

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EthicsEthics

� IRB Approval – approval to use student data in research

� Consent form in CoS

� Disclaimer on discussion boards

� Removal of posts

� Considerations in posting news items – CJ Prison article

� IRB Approval – approval to use student data in research

� Consent form in CoS

� Disclaimer on discussion boards

� Removal of posts

� Considerations in posting news items – CJ Prison article

AssessmentAssessment

� January 2016

� Initial assessment – do we want to continue the program?

� Final report for the UW System Innovation Grant

� Survey results – very few responses, numbers are very skewed

� Decision to continue, bring in the rest of the undergrad students but wait on grad population

� Ongoing/future assessment

� Meetings held regularly with CoS advisors

� Regular reviews of CoS classlists to remove deactivated students

� January 2016

� Initial assessment – do we want to continue the program?

� Final report for the UW System Innovation Grant

� Survey results – very few responses, numbers are very skewed

� Decision to continue, bring in the rest of the undergrad students but wait on grad population

� Ongoing/future assessment

� Meetings held regularly with CoS advisors

� Regular reviews of CoS classlists to remove deactivated students

9/23/2016

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Things We Wish We’d Known Going InThings We Wish We’d Known Going In

� IRB Process

� Content Development – what students want vs. what advisors THINK the students want

� SmarterMeasure (contracts, implementation, intended audience/use)

� Advisor commitment – voluntary participation, not everyone was able to or interested in putting time into this project.

� IRB Process

� Content Development – what students want vs. what advisors THINK the students want

� SmarterMeasure (contracts, implementation, intended audience/use)

� Advisor commitment – voluntary participation, not everyone was able to or interested in putting time into this project.

New Things We’ve TriedNew Things We’ve Tried

� Regular meetings with the advisors and Amy to share stories, strategies

� Start of the semester reminder e-mail to students who registered but have never posted in the CoS.

� Mentioning the CoS specifically to new students during their mandatory pre-registration advising session.

� Adding “post in the CoS” to out of office messages



� Removal of SmarterMeasure (October 2016)

� Regular meetings with the advisors and Amy to share stories, strategies

� Start of the semester reminder e-mail to students who registered but have never posted in the CoS.

� Mentioning the CoS specifically to new students during their mandatory pre-registration advising session.

� Adding “post in the CoS” to out of office messages



� Removal of SmarterMeasure (October 2016)

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Future PlansFuture Plans

� Communication Strategy

� Discussion Board Changes (some already completed)

� Virtual Office Hours

� Content Updates

� Removal of SmarterMeasure – not the best fit for this project

� Work on improving reply rate to posts – students post and read but rarely reply

� Communication Strategy

� Discussion Board Changes (some already completed)

� Virtual Office Hours

� Content Updates

� Removal of SmarterMeasure – not the best fit for this project

� Work on improving reply rate to posts – students post and read but rarely reply

Tips on Starting Your Own CommunityTips on Starting Your Own Community

� Determine the need

� Want to boost student engagement

� Need another/different advising strategy

� Students want a way to connect with each other

� How will you assess if it’s working? How will you make changes?

� Define the population

� Grad? Undergrad?

� Specific majors?

� Students of specific advisors?

� Determine the need

� Want to boost student engagement

� Need another/different advising strategy

� Students want a way to connect with each other

� How will you assess if it’s working? How will you make changes?

� Define the population

� Grad? Undergrad?

� Specific majors?

� Students of specific advisors?

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Tips on Starting Your Own CommunityTips on Starting Your Own Community

� Money talks

� Development costs (if any)

� Software – SmarterMeasure

� Development team release time/overload

� Promotion – postcards, letters, posters, etc.

� Training needs for facilitators

� Put it together!

� Our development took about six weeks, but ideas were already in place

� Deadlines? Ours were determined by the Innovation Grant and academic calendar

� Money talks

� Development costs (if any)

� Software – SmarterMeasure

� Development team release time/overload

� Promotion – postcards, letters, posters, etc.

� Training needs for facilitators

� Put it together!

� Our development took about six weeks, but ideas were already in place

� Deadlines? Ours were determined by the Innovation Grant and academic calendar

Questions?Questions?

Kalyn Williams – [email protected] Foley – [email protected] Williams – [email protected] Foley – [email protected]

Using Desire2Learn to Build an Online Student...

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