Course Goals:
1. Provide student services professionals the experience of being an online student.
2. Learn the tools and technologies involved in online learning.
3. Learn how developing and implementing quality online services benefits all students.
4. Identify best practices in online student services and create a transition plan for developing quality online student services.

Description:
This course for all higher education employees is divided in four, one-week modules that are offered one module at a time. The modules each contain a lecture and a series of assignments that will be carried out entirely online, both individually and through small group work. The course is taught in the Blackboard course management system and will move to Angel during 2008-2009. Students should expect to spend 10 hours per week completing each module, and supervisors are asked to provide 10 hours of release time per week for course participants. The course, a $400 value ($100 per module), is free to participants and funded by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.

This course can also be taught to a cohort from a single college. This is particularly effective when participants – staff and administrators - are drawn from each of the student services areas on campus.

Learning Outcomes:

Module 1: Introduction to Online Learning and Online Student Services
The learner will:
a. Learn the components of the Blackboard online classroom and navigate it successfully
b. Recognize the number of students at his/her campus that are learning online
c. Navigate his/her college web site to find online services and prioritize a campus online services needs assessment

Module 2: The Experience of Learning Online
The learner will:
a. Understand and be able to explain why online courses are time-consuming and challenging, and why online students have different needs than on-ground students
b. Understand the pros and cons of online learning, based on scholarly research and first-hand experience
c. Experience an online readiness assessment and will understand why online learning is not appropriate for every student

Module 3 : Identifying Successful Online Student Services
The learner will:
a. Develop quality indicators for web sites and web-based student services
b. Identify best practices in online student services based on the quality indicators
c. Evaluate his/her campus’ existing online student services based on the quality indicators

Module 4: Creating Student-Centered Online Student Services
The learner will:
a. Identify communication skills needed for successful online student services
b. Identify the colleagues and resources necessary for transforming an existing on-ground student service to the online environment
c. Develop a plan for transforming an existing student service to an online student service