Reading, Writing and Resource Centers

Reading, Writing, and Resource Centers:
Strategies for Motivating and Retaining
Online Students
Presented by:
Ginger Cameron
Assistant Dean of Students
Kaplan University
[email protected]
Retention 2009, EPI
Carolyn Stevenson
Faculty, Communication Department
[email protected]
Student retention is a topic critical to administrators and
faculty in the e-Learning environment. Successful
student retention reaches beyond the virtual blackboard,
and involves fostering a connection between the
classroom, institution, and other students.
Community Building
• Community involves building relationships built on common interests
and is critical to academic success and student retention. Creative
online resources, such as a student Resource Center, provide
students with a “one-stop shop” for 24/7 academic support, career
information, and live tutoring. Student activities such as clubs and
organizations create a bond between student and the institution.
Overview
This presentation will discuss strategies for
developing a Resource Center and ways to build
student community at a distance. Topics include:
designing and developing a student Resource
Center, developing clubs and organizations at a
distance, and discussion of the impact of
resources and activities on student retention.
http://kucampus.kaplan.edu/login/login.aspx
Virtual Library
New Student Area
Webliography
Webliography – a closer look
Meet the Professor
Document Sharing
Discussion Board
Academic Learning Activities
Cont…
Writing, Math and Keyboarding
Writing, Math and Keyboarding
Writing, Math and Keyboarding
Other…
Kaplan University Student Clubs
• Book Club: Join your friends for discussions of
bestselling books.
• Mentoring Club: Apply To Serve as a Student Mentor
and help new students
• OWLS Roost: Join the Arts and Health Sciences NonTraditional Students Club
• ToastMasters: Join a local chapter and improve your
public speaking skills.
• Kaplan Gazette: Submit an article to the Kaplan
Gazette—the Arts & Sciences student newsletter.
Student Organizations (continued)
• Walking Club: The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services challenges all to take steps toward
improving physical and mental health.
• Women in Communications: This opportunity is open
to select students majoring in Communication with an
above average G.P.A. and demonstrated academic
success in classes taken at Kaplan University.
• Educators Club: Educational Paraprofessional and
Early Childhood Development students meet with other
program members to discuss relevant educational issues
and share experiences.
Student Organizations (continued)
Recipe Club: KU Cooks! Share your favorite recipes
Study Buddy: We may be online, but we are not out of touch! Kaplan
University’s Study Buddy initiative puts students in near-by areas in
touch with one another. Students can actually meet up or call other KU
students in their local area. All information is shared using only the KU
email addresses and no personal information is shared, unless the
student reveals it to the study buddy.
Honors Society: Kaplan University applauds the exceptional
achievement of our academic scholars and supports many of the
prestigious Honor Societies that recognize high academic achievement,
including Alpha Beta Kappa, Golden Key and others.
Curriculum Initiatives
• Foundations courses are available for students with low
assessment scores.
• KU 120 Introduction to Reading Skills and Strategies
• KU 121 Introduction to Writing Skills and Strategies
• KU 122 Introduction to Math Skills and Strategies
Services for Poor-Performing Students
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Outreach via email and phone calls.
Student Personal Improvement Plan.
Online tutoring services—including live tutors.
Study buddies.
Online office from instructor to address student issues.
Phone calls, both individual and group.
Math and Writing Centers
Resource Rooms
Writing Center
• The Writing Center can help you with all your Kaplan University-related
writing tasks. We offer four types of support: live tutoring, the Q&A Writing
Center, a comprehensive writing reference library, and a paper review
service. All our tutors are highly qualified Kaplan University professors,
ready to help you reach your full potential as an effective, academic writer.
We look forward to working with you!
Writing Tutor: Chat with a live tutor online.
Q&A Writing Center: Submit a question to a tutor.
Writing Reference Library: Explore a variety of reference documents about
grammar, mechanics, APA formatting and citations, and the writing
process itself.
Paper Review Service: Submit a paper for feedback.
Math Center
• Welcome to Kaplan University’s Math Center. Here you can find
information on everything from using basic operations to solving
algebraic equations. You also may contact a Math Center Tutor to
get help.
• Math Tutor: Chat with a live tutor online.
• Q&A Math Center: Submit a question to a tutor.
• Mathematics Modules: Review key math concepts.
• Math Symbols: Learn how to insert math symbols into a MS Word
document.
• Math Placement Exam: Take the math placement exam. This exam
can only be taken once. It consists of 20 multiple-choice questions
and takes about 45 minutes to complete. It will give us an idea of
your current level of math proficiency.
For Discussion
• Does your institution currently offer a student resource similar
to the Resource Center?
• What type of student organizations does your organization
offer for online learners?
• What type of support does your institution offer for
developmental/remedial students?
• Discuss other ways your institution fosters collaboration
through student resources and activities.