Insights into Distance Education Initiatives and Faculty Development Programs

1.) In-Service Report 2.) Tech Talks 3.) Distance Education Snapshot Faculty Reports Fall 2015 Dan Hall

@One From Communication to Community An online workshop that focused on enhancing communication skills for current and potential distance education faculty to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and overall quality of an online course. 28 full-time and adjunct Taft College faculty participated

Responses from workshop participants: Pros - Most faculty liked the flexibility that the online workshop provided for their schedule. Helpful to gain the experience of an online course. Learned some activities that helped instill community within the online course. Liked the Accountabilabuddy concept/activity

Responses from workshop participants: Pros The workshop helped me with understand the importance of properly writing questions to the student population that will stimulate an online conversation. I appreciated the experience of an online class that was tied heavily to discussion boards--and less of an independent study course. I liked the on-line format. I would like to see more on-line workshops. I included my communication policy that I developed in the workshop in my summer syllabi.

Responses from workshop participants: Cons- Did not care for replying to 2 other discussion posts. Did not learn any new pedagogies to help with retention and success of students. Not impressed with the instructor s lack of response to emails. Some instructional resources were not accessible.

Responses from workshop participants: Cons Some students wanted to get the class done and over with, but had to wait for other responders to comment, so they could comment as well. There were also all the usual issues with technology, schedules, families, and life in general--the same as our students face.

Upcoming Tech Talks Twice monthly on alternate weeks of the FIGs 2nd Tuesday 4th Thursday September 8th Canvas LMS Discussion

As of 8/11/15 Total Student Headcount: 2724 # Students taking DE courses: 1740 # of students taking only DE courses: 878 # of students taking a full-load from DE courses only: 194

Where Are Our DE Students Located? Area # of Students % of DE Students Bakersfield 1149 66% Taft 298 17% Shafter 71 4% Wasco 37 2% Arvin 33 1.9% Lamont 22 1.3% Maricopa 14 0.8%

TC DE Students from Bakersfield by Zip Code Zip Code # of Students Part of Bakersfield 93301 18 Central/Downtown 93304 66 S Central 93305 21 NE 93306 43 NE 93307 109 SE, E and NE 93308 68 NE and NW 93309 133 SW 93311 180 SW 93312 184 NW 93313 186 SW 93314 136 NW

Q4-Why did you take online courses at TC? Why did you take online courses at TC? Why did you take online courses at TC? Why DE Courses are Why DE Courses are Convenient Students: Students: Convenient for TC for TC 68% 68% 30 18% 25 46% 4% 20 15 10 13% 7% 5% 5% 2% 2% 32% 5 I was attending High school at the same time. 0 It is conveinent not having to travel. Convenience It was the only thing available. It is convenient for my family It was easy to find space in an online class. My disability restricts me from physically coming to taft. I am an online learner. My work schedule doesn t allow me to attend classes. I wanted to see if online worked for me.

Q5-Do DE students have the same information about campus resources as typical students? The top three services DE students feel they need more information/access to are: Financial Aid Deadline/Important Date Reminders Information on Scholarships What services do you feel What services do you feel are are hard to access as a DE hard to access as a DE Student? Student? 26% 26% 18 16 18% 14 12 10 9% 8 6% 6 5% 3% 4 3% 2% 2% 2 0 All Services Financial Aid Deadline Reminders/Important Dates CSU Info Transfer Info Workshops TC Student Info(scholarships, etc) More Classes Error Tutoring

Q6-TC Programs for TC students I Would Like Information About the Following I Would Like Information About the Following TC Programs: TC Programs: Students that are primarily at a distance do not always hear reminders about TC programs. They oftentimes do not know how to determine if they are eligible or know how to apply. With reminders and informational flyers we would like to help close this gap. 29% 12 10 8 16% 16% 13% 6 8% 4 5% 5% 5% 3% 2 0 All Cal WORKs EOPS TRIO DSP&S Eligibility Info. How to Apply Info About All Programs I Didn't Know These Programs Existed

Q7-How do students view their online experience? The most common responses of the 9% of students that responded, I think I would have done better if: I had a more responsive instructor I received reminders about the due dates of my assignments. I would have liked the instructors to respond to emails quicker or have another instructor available for help If everything was listed on the class calendar including discussions and modules that needed to be read. One of the courses I took did not have lecture notes and it was difficult to know what to study for quizzes and exams Other responses: I wish teachers checked in and responded to private messages quicker. I would have liked more coursework to be available from day one. I like to get ahead.

Q8-Do you feel like there is a good variety of courses offered online? 44% of students that took the survey have a hard time completing there schedule because they cannot find the classes they need offered online. 25% responded, I would love if these classes were available online: Any Lab Any Lab Students communicated the desire to have the classes they need to graduate and transfer offered online. More of the classes that fill quickly Chemistry Statistics Business Admin Courses Sign Language English 0900 Philosophy Biology Geology Speech English 1700 Political Science English 2400 Creative Writing IES English 2600

Q9:Would you say that you benefit from having online courses available to you? Why do you benefit from having online courses Why do you benefit from having online courses available to you? available to you? About 96% of students replied that they benefit from having online courses available to them. 4 60 37% of students gave us an explanation as to why they specifically benefit from these course offerings. The most common reasons why students choose online were because they are parents, working, or have very busy lives and this is the only way they would be able to further their education. 50 40 22% 30 1 1 20 2% 1% 10 0 I have kids I need to care for. If it were not for the wide variety of online classes Taft offers, I would not If it were not for the wide variety of online classes Taft offers, I would not be in school right now. I have a full time job and am a full time mom. I went be in school right now. I have a full time job and am a full time mom. I went to BC 10 years ago but had to stop. Taft has given me a fresh start and the to BC 10 years ago but had to stop. Taft has given me a fresh start and the online programs have made it possible. I have recommended Taft to several online programs have made it possible. I have recommended Taft to several of my coworkers for this reason and 5 have registered for this fall, 3 will be of my coworkers for this reason and 5 have registered for this fall, 3 will be registering in the Spring. It has been amazing for them to realize, as it was registering in the Spring. It has been amazing for them to realize, as it was for me, that school can be an option for us. for me, that school can be an option for us. I do not want to drive to taft. It is convient for my busy life. I am an online learner. I work. I have a disability that limits me from coming to Taft.

Q11- How do you usually communicate with a counselor (F-2-F, Email, Phone)? 75% of DE students have met with a counselor. 25% have not once meet with a counselor. Of the students that have, most use Face to Face appointments. How did you meet with your counselor How did you meet with your counselor (Phone,F (Phone,F- -2 2- -F, Email, F, Email, Other Other)? )? 78% 120 100 80 We wonder if our 25% is unable to physically make an appointment due to their schedules. Do they know that they can make a phone or email correspondence appointment? 60 12% 10% 40 20 Face-to-Face Phone Emial 0

Q15- I found that my instructor was other: 13% of students left a comment about their experience. Most of these comments reflected the 20 percent of students who felt they had unresponsive instructors. One of the two One of the two instructors was instructors was wonderful, but the wonderful, but the other one was not as other one was not as good at good at communicating. communicating. Only one class was harder to Only one class was harder to understand than the others. I understand than the others. I think had I called the instructor think had I called the instructor instead of emailing, I would have instead of emailing, I would have been better off. This happened my been better off. This happened my first semester when I was less first semester when I was less confidant. Now I understand confidant. Now I understand that the professors are there to that the professors are there to answer questions. answer questions. Not Not informative informative enough. enough. One teacher One teacher would only would only answer answer questions every questions every two or three two or three weeks, then weeks, then your your assignment was assignment was late or it didn t late or it didn t matter matter anymore. anymore. I wish teachers I wish teachers checked in and checked in and responded to responded to private private messages messages quicker. quicker. They don t They don t grade homework grade homework fast and we fast and we don t know our don t know our grade for half grade for half the course. the course.

Q16- Which online resource(s) have you utilized? I loved the videos that Prof. Duncan I loved the videos that Prof. Duncan provided. The wiki space Prof. Ashmore provided. The wiki space Prof. Ashmore uses is helpful. Turnitin is only uses is helpful. Turnitin is only helpful to the student if the helpful to the student if the instructor uses the grade mark system to provide uses the grade mark system to provide clear feedback. Prof. Dyer has clear feedback. Prof. Dyer has definitely used it to its full potential definitely used it to its full potential. . instructor Some of these sites are Some of these sites are hard to navigate if you hard to navigate if you have never used them have never used them before. before.