Integrating orientation content into a required first semester online course to support new online graduate student success

Drouillard, Colette; Most, Linda

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/105388 Copy

Description

Title

Integrating orientation content into a required first semester online course to support new online graduate student success

Author(s)

• Drouillard, Colette
• Most, Linda

Issue Date

2019-09-24

Keyword(s)

• Distance learning
• Asynchronous
• Orientation to learning management system
• Student support

Abstract

The Valdosta State University MLIS program is a fully online asynchronous program. It was created in the early 2000’s to meet the needs of Georgia academic and public library paraprofessionals who required the MLIS degree to progress in their careers. Because many of these employees were unable to relocate for an out of state face-to-face (F2F) MLIS program or enroll in one of the limited number of online MLIS degree programs -- most required at least some scheduled weekly synchronous online course participation --the state and the university chose to create this MLIS program as both asynchronous and online but originally with a required F2F four-weekend Foundations course. By 2010 Foundations had been moved fully online with a weekend on-campus orientation. By 2017, the program was drawing a pool of applicants from 30+ states so a F2F orientation no longer made financial or pedagogical sense. Initially online orientation ran prior to the first week of classes. Two semesters later, we decided to integrate orientation content into the Foundations course to provide a more appropriate mode of reaching the students at their point of need. This poster will document the evolution of orientation from F2F to online and its ongoing integration into the course. Our goal for students’ first semester experience is to utilize a series of online labs to increase their interaction with the material and their connection to the program by scaffolding content, discussions and assignments relevant to the course, the overall program, and university processes and procedures.

Series/Report Name or Number

• Online learning
• New student orientation
• Pedagogy
• Curriculum

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/105388

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