Improving Online Student Engagement through Synchronous Learning Sessions

Improving Online Student Engagement through Synchronous Learning SessionsHeather Zink / Hybrid Classroom ManagerRasmussen College

04/08/2023

Contact InformationHeather ZinkHybrid Classroom [email protected] (email)twitter.com/zinkpath (twitter)facebook.com/heatherzink.at.rasonline (facebook)952-230-5068 (office)

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• Develop an understanding of blended learning opportunities for online students

• Discuss the benefits & strategies for implementing synchronous learning activities into online academics

• Discuss key components to engaging students in online synchronous learning sessions

GOALS OF THE SESSION

Copyright Rasmussen, Inc. 2011. Proprietary and Confidential.

I. Background on Hybrid Course Delivery

II. Live Lecture Project – great stats!

III. Student FeedbackIV. Workshop StructureV. Types of ContentVI. Q&A

Agenda


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Hybrid Delivery at Rasmussen


I. Virtual Live LecturesII. Flex 50 – Campus-based & VirtualIII. Flat Instructor

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• High failure, low retention courses – how do we change this?• Q1/Q2 students – what makes them different?

– What needs do they have?• Live lecture series – deliver the same lecture multiple times throughout the

week• T-E-A-M of highly qualified faculty to create engaging sessions focused on

weekly objectives• Award course credit for attendance – 5 points

– 5% of overall score

Live Lecture Project


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Average Session Attendance


Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Morning 9am ---4---

8am ---3---

9am---9---

9am ---10---

7am---21---

11am---8---

11am---9---

11am---11---

11am ---19---

11am---37---

Afternoon 2pm ---6---

12pm ---17---

2pm ---12---

1pm ---12---

4pm ---7---

3pm ---16---

Evening 7pm ---22---

7pm ---10---

6pm ---10---

7pm ---22---

5pm ---11---

9pm ---8---

8pm ---18---

9pm ---18---

7pm ---21---

Objectives of the Live Lectures

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Provide students with an opportunity to interact with instructors and other students

Reinforce and clarify concepts from each week’s topics

Increase pass rates and retention rates

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Attendance: 50%Retention: 80%Pass Rates: 80%Course Average: 80%

Statistic Goals


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Hands clapping


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Of 528 students finishing the course…• 86% attended at least 1 session• 70% attended over half of the sessions

• 86% pass rate• 84% average score• 82% retention ---528/646---

Spring EOQ Attendance Stats – M120


Sessions attended

Course Average

0 66.91-4 51.35-8 87.2all 94.1

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“…it is nice to recap the information I read in the book and hear a bit of examples on the subject. It helps it stick in my brain more. I do sometimes having trouble getting into a session since I am home alone with my children most of the time and it is hard to hear then. I do my best and think I have found a good time span to do this. Overall I think it is a good time for review and makes it seem kind of more like a real classroom environment. I am unable to take residential classes due to my childcare situation so being able to take more courses online was the main reason I chose Rasmussen. The Live lectures are a great way to get the experience of being in a class. Thanks.”

Spring 2012 Student Comments


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“I've never had a class that made them a requirement, but I do find them extremely useful. I feel like I retain the information better too. I'm a hands on learner so the lecture is the next best thing when it comes to needing to take online classes.”

“I enjoy these lectures, it makes reading and studying the chapters fun, I wish they did these in every class. “

Awesome Feedback!!


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“I actually look forward to the live lectures. I enjoy them every week! We get a lot of information from them that helps on the assignments and quizzes.”

“I was a little unsure about the live lectures at first but now I really enjoy them. It just gives me a chance to learn the material better than from just reading the chapter. I wouldn't change anything. I look forward to it every week.”

“Honestly I missed the first two weeks because I forgot about it then the second week I didn't realize it was in Eastern Time since we were all from MN, or ND area I assumed it was Central Time. But I do enjoy them and wouldn't change anything but make us involved just a little bit more but not too much. It gives people a chance to show off how much they know and some learn more by being more involved.”

More Good Stuff!!


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EOQ Data – Spring 2012


Course % attending each week % passing Course

average RetentionAverage # per session

Highest session attendance

Phase of Live Lecture Project

B136 51% 81% 75.0 78% 624 Saturday 10pm

Pilot – 10 sections

D132 59% 88% 81.6 79% 2370Saturday 2pm

Full Course – 50 sections

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Final Scores B080 B099 D132 G233 B1360 sessions 43.6 14.3 61.0 59.9 49.5

1-4 sessions 43.5 58.3 69.9 58.5 49.95-8 sessions 73.6 83 86.7 70 81.7

All 9 sessions 82.0 80.5 95.4 83.4 92.2

…notice anything about students attending at least 5 sessions a quarter…


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• Professional Practice Activity – student success is highly variable

• Library and Learning Center staff attended sessions to discussed assignment specific resources

68% 84%

Embedded Librarian Partnership


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2012 Projects


Spring Pilots Summer additionsB136 Intro to Business English CompositionG233 College Algebra Introduction to Criminal Justice

AcceleratED Bachelor’s coursesContinuing Courses Fall additionsM120 Medical Terminology Medical CodingD132 Computer Applications Introduction to Early Childhood

EducationB080 Reading & Writing Strategies Anatomy & Physiology B099 Foundations of Math

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Course lead with a great team of support!• Training Training Training !!• Decide on how lectures/workshops will be

delivered• Split up the work for creating themGOAL = To create an engaging learning experience for the students

How do they do it? TEAM SPIRIT!!!


Collaborative efforts promote student success & faculty

satisfaction

Copyright Rasmussen, Inc. 2011. Proprietary and Confidential.April 8, 2023 20

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• Think of each 1 hour workshop as a ‘lab’• Students come with textbook exercises/assignments

complete – communication prior to workshop is key!– Specific questions/agenda discussed in workshop– Answers and/or sample assignments are provided – it’s a work session,

the group will work through the problems– Potential for small group work in Breakout Rooms

• Each workshop includes :– Ice breaker question, 5 course polls, 1

video/animation/interactive website, webcam use & picture uploaded

Workshop Structure


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• Each session includes (at minimum):– Ice breaker question/activity– 5 course polls/quick quizzes– 1 video/animation/interactive website

• Another voice other than the instructor

– Interaction with the students every 5-10 minutes– Webcam use & picture uploaded

Workshop/Live Lecture components


Upload PowerPoint slides Show web pages and have students may complete activity. Use eBoard to draw, point, underline to highlight or create

content. Use Application Share to review an application or go review a

paper. Create Poll questions – interaction

promotes conversation!! Select a ‘note-taker’.

Types of Content

A few examples to get us started…

• Discussion – Everyone’s talking about HIPAA– Focus on the PRIVACY RULE– http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understan

ding/index.html

• Written assignment – Confidentiality of Medical Records– Use Chapter 10 & the AHIMA article attached to

the assignment

• Quiz

Weekly Assignments

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/index.html

1. Hemodialysis is the process by which cancer cells are filtered directly from the patient’s blood.

True or False

What do you know?

Answer: False.

Hemodialysis is the process by which waste products are filtered from the patient’s blood.

1 2 3

4 5

INFECTIONS OF THE

URINARY TRACT

• Primary Function – Collects urine produced by the

kidney. • Related Combining Form

– ___________________– What type of disease is

depicted in this picture?

Renal Pelvis

Prepositional phrases

Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Adverbs answer the questions:

• Where? • When? • How? • How often? • To what extent?

Adverbs


• The (adjective) modifies bedroom. Huge describes the size of the boxes while moldy describes the appearance. What kind of boxes? Huge and moldy boxes.

Adjectives


The bedroom was filled with huge, moldy boxes.

GOOD• Louis is such a good recruiter.• His decision to hire Rhonda was a good one.• What kind of recruiter is Louis? (Good) • What kind of decision was it? (Good)WELL• Louis is doing so well with his karate lessons. (How is he doing?)• Rhonda's work is well beyond what we expected. (To what extent is her

work?)

Using Good and Well Correctly


Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.

Sample Conjunctions: And or soBut nor for yetThe fish and the frog like to swim, but the camel

likes to walk.

Conjunctions


For your first post, compare and contrast two favorite snacks. Write one sentence describing each snack. Snacks could be chocolate cake and popcorn, brownies and ice cream, cherry pie and celery, or pizza and a hamburger. Try to include one adjective in each of your sentences.

In your response to another student, see if you can identify the adjectives they used. What other parts of speech do you see? Subject? Verb? Adverb? Did anyone use a conjunction or a preposition?

Week 3 Discussion-Ready for a Snack


Meets the expectation:• I like creamy strawberry milkshakes. Impresses and allows you to PRACTICE!!!:• I can’t wait for the hot, long days of summer

when I can make fresh, smooth and creamy strawberry milkshakes using plump and juicy sun ripened strawberries from my amazing garden.

A Tale of Two Examples:


Scratch paper

On your scratch paper, jot down a few sample sentences for the discussion. See how many descriptive adjectives you can use.


Collaborative Live SessionsONLINE COURSES

• Welcome/Open House• Review and reflect discussion

forums• Discuss weekly lesson • Create breakout rooms for

group discussions and activities • Project presentations• Share desktop to show course

specific applications.

ON-CAMPUS COURSES• Invite guest speakers who cannot

come on-campus or reside out of state

• Archive explanations of applications or procedures

• Students who miss a class can remotely participate

• Students can complete their group projects by working collaboratively in the virtual classroom

…and BONUS – increasing pass rates & retention!

We are enhancing the learning experience & building community for our students!

Copyright Rasmussen, Inc. 2011. Proprietary and Confidential.April 8, 2023 39

04/08/2023

Contact InformationHeather ZinkHybrid Classroom [email protected] (email)twitter.com/zinkpath (twitter)facebook.com/heatherzink.at.rasonline (facebook)952-230-5068 (office)

download slides: http://heatherzink.wordpress.com

http://heatherzink.wordpress.com/