Building Community Building Community through ANGELthrough ANGEL

Resources, Reflections & Best Practices Resources, Reflections & Best Practices for for

Students, Professional Employees, & Students, Professional Employees, & FacultyFaculty

Presented @ All College, 2008By Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein & Joan JohnsenNortheast Center

AgendaAgenda► REFLECTIONSREFLECTIONS

What we are doing with ANGEL at NECWhat we are doing with ANGEL at NEC Learning by doing – meeting one need & seeing other Learning by doing – meeting one need & seeing other

possibilitiespossibilities

► BEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICES Technology TrendsTechnology Trends Theories & Best Practices in Academic SupportTheories & Best Practices in Academic Support

► RESOURCES & BUILDING COMMUNITYRESOURCES & BUILDING COMMUNITY ANGEL Community Group – A look insideANGEL Community Group – A look inside What you can do with your studentsWhat you can do with your students

ANGEL Community GroupANGEL Community Group► How it started… NEC Academic SupportHow it started… NEC Academic Support

Online repository of academic support workshop materialsOnline repository of academic support workshop materials► What it is now…What it is now…

Comprehensive range of resources, weblinks, Comprehensive range of resources, weblinks, presentations, & discussion forums designed to support & presentations, & discussion forums designed to support & enhance NEC students' successenhance NEC students' success

Utilized by students, staff, & faculty Utilized by students, staff, & faculty ► What it might become…What it might become…

We’re not sure…We’re not sure… What we hope for is all of the above PLUS…What we hope for is all of the above PLUS…

► An interactive meeting place for students, faculty & staff An interactive meeting place for students, faculty & staff ► Creation of materials by students & facultyCreation of materials by students & faculty

Technology RealitiesTechnology RealitiesHIGHER EDUCATION – IN GENERALHIGHER EDUCATION – IN GENERAL► Colleges are exploring, integrating & infusing Colleges are exploring, integrating & infusing

technology into every aspect of the college technology into every aspect of the college experience – wikis, podcasts, course management experience – wikis, podcasts, course management systems (ie. ANGEL), video. systems (ie. ANGEL), video.

► Feb 2006: Apple estimated that all new college Feb 2006: Apple estimated that all new college students, regardless of age or institution, own an students, regardless of age or institution, own an average of 1.3 iPods or other MP3 device. average of 1.3 iPods or other MP3 device.

► 85.1% of today’s college students prefer e-mail 85.1% of today’s college students prefer e-mail for official college & university communications.* for official college & university communications.*

► In both cases, 76% of college students ages 30 & In both cases, 76% of college students ages 30 & older & ages 25-29 have broadband access.* older & ages 25-29 have broadband access.*

SOURCE : * Educause

Technology RealitiesTechnology RealitiesEMPIRE STATE COLLEGEEMPIRE STATE COLLEGE► ANGEL – available to support not just CDL but all Empire ANGEL – available to support not just CDL but all Empire

State College studies in blended as well as online versions.State College studies in blended as well as online versions.► Empire State College has a Second Life island & Facebook Empire State College has a Second Life island & Facebook

presence.presence.► New students, staff & faculty are coming in with technology New students, staff & faculty are coming in with technology

expectations (e-mail, Internet, & other modes of digital expectations (e-mail, Internet, & other modes of digital communication & multimedia) as part of a college learning communication & multimedia) as part of a college learning environment.environment.

End ResultEnd Result -- Empire State College needs to adapt & be on -- Empire State College needs to adapt & be on the cutting edge of learning support with technology as a the cutting edge of learning support with technology as a way to enhance & engage students in the learning process.way to enhance & engage students in the learning process.

CAVEAT – Keep PEDAGOGY before TECHNOLOGY.CAVEAT – Keep PEDAGOGY before TECHNOLOGY.

Best Practices in Using Technology Best Practices in Using Technology to Support Students…to Support Students…

► Pedagogy & Learning Theories Pedagogy & Learning Theories DRIVEDRIVE technology use in technology use in academic support services not the other way around.academic support services not the other way around.

► Certain technologies can enhance learning…Certain technologies can enhance learning… BENEFITS to LEARNERSBENEFITS to LEARNERS

Need for learning that is flexible, accessible, & tailored to a variety of learning Need for learning that is flexible, accessible, & tailored to a variety of learning preferences so students have choice – focusing on their interests and/or preferences so students have choice – focusing on their interests and/or learning preferences.learning preferences.

BENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & OFFICE of ACADEMIC SUPPORT BENEFITS to COLLEGE OVERALL & OFFICE of ACADEMIC SUPPORT OFFICEOFFICE

Beneficial in both face-2-face & technology enhanced mediums. One does not Beneficial in both face-2-face & technology enhanced mediums. One does not necessarily have to replace the other – center & college missions as well as necessarily have to replace the other – center & college missions as well as learner needs drive the blended use of these learning engagements.learner needs drive the blended use of these learning engagements.

BENEFITS to ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFFBENEFITS to ACADEMIC SUPPORT STAFFMaximize resources – human & time, training options open up, F2F interactions Maximize resources – human & time, training options open up, F2F interactions

can take on depth when students come into the center having gone over the can take on depth when students come into the center having gone over the “basics”“basics”

Successful academic support services Successful academic support services include…include…

► Proactive interventions.Proactive interventions.► Supportive environments.Supportive environments.► Personalized support systems.Personalized support systems.► Small group tutorials.Small group tutorials.► Development of students’ basic learning skills,Development of students’ basic learning skills,► Teaching of study skills & learning strategies in the Teaching of study skills & learning strategies in the

context of academic content courses.context of academic content courses.► Opportunities to interact in informal settings & Opportunities to interact in informal settings &

develop personal relationships with faculty. develop personal relationships with faculty. ► Opportunities to experience success.Opportunities to experience success.

- - Adapted from Martha Maxwell (1997) Adapted from Martha Maxwell (1997) Improving Student Learning SkillsImproving Student Learning Skills & & Casazza & Silverman (1996) Casazza & Silverman (1996) Learning Assistance & Developmental Education Learning Assistance & Developmental Education

MISSION & GOALSMISSION & GOALS

STUDENTS’ SKILLS & NEEDSSTUDENTS’ SKILLS & NEEDS

CREATING CREATING PROGRAMS PROGRAMS

& & SERVICESSERVICES

STAFFING &

STAFFING &

RESOURCES

RESOURCES ASSES

SMEN

T

ASSES

SMEN

T& &

EVALU

ATION

EVALU

ATION

Academic Support Services Model...

Created by Lisa D’Adamo-Weinstein & Johanna Dvorak (2004)

Assessing Students: Skills & Assessing Students: Skills & NeedsNeeds

““College is not just for the creative or the really smart people. College is not just for the creative or the really smart people. It is for ordinary folks who want to improve their lives.” * It is for ordinary folks who want to improve their lives.” *

► Application Review Process Application Review Process Proactive interventions with DAS, writing study, etc.Proactive interventions with DAS, writing study, etc.

► Orientation – essay, learning styles, prior learning Orientation – essay, learning styles, prior learning assessment & academic skill self-reportassessment & academic skill self-report

► Faculty assessment of students – individually & Faculty assessment of students – individually & collectivelycollectively

► Student self-referralStudent self-referral► Workshop evaluation forms & other student feedbackWorkshop evaluation forms & other student feedback

NEC needs & goals for reaching studentsNEC needs & goals for reaching students► Access to information for all students @ Access to information for all students @ all levelsall levels ► Information available 24/7Information available 24/7► Connect better with unit studentsConnect better with unit students

* From 100 Things Every Adult College Student Ought to Know

Assessing the College: Mission & Goals

The Mission of Empire State College► Empire State College enables motivated adults, regardless of geographyregardless of geography or

life circumstancelife circumstance, to design a rigorousrigorous, , individualizedindividualized academic program & earn a college degree.

The Commitments of Empire State College► To support self-directedself-directed, intellectually curious learnerscurious learners who collaboratecollaborate with

faculty mentors.► To document, evaluate & award credit for an adult’s prior college-level life

learning.► To offer each student an array of learning experiencesarray of learning experiences through independent

study, seminars, short-term residencies, & online courses.► To develop, implement & assess new approaches to learning that recognize new approaches to learning that recognize

the strengths & needs of adult learnersthe strengths & needs of adult learners.► To provide access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York access to degree programs at multiple locations in New York

state & abroad, & through the World Wide Webstate & abroad, & through the World Wide Web.► To expand degree opportunities for adult learners through partnerships with

employers & unions, government agencies & the armed forces, and community organizations & educational institutions.

Enrolled

ConcurredDP

Prospects

Info Session Attendees

Applicants

Accepted Students

Oriented

Recruiters, Secretary to Recruitment, SSPs

ALL mentors, PEs, Support Staff, & Recruiters

Review Committee – Dean, SSP, DAS, Writing Mentor

SSP, DAS, OCAR, Deans, Mentors

ALL

Admissions & Recruiters

Graduation

Northeast CenterNortheast CenterStudent Funnel/Engagement CycleStudent Funnel/Engagement Cycle

RESOURCES FOR ALL RESOURCES FOR ALL ENROLLED STUDENTSENROLLED STUDENTS

Datebook – SchoolDatebooks.com

Primary mentors, SSP, Office Manager

DAS – Academic Support Workshops, Individual Consultation, Studies

Assessment Specialist – Portfolio Workshops

ANGEL Community Group

OCAR & Committee

CREATING PROGRAMS & SERVICESCREATING PROGRAMS & SERVICESAcademic Support = Student Academic Support = Student SupportSupport

► Merging college mission & goals with students’ needs & skillsMerging college mission & goals with students’ needs & skills regardless of geographyregardless of geography or life circumstancelife circumstance – students

can have access 24/7 - ANGEL is available to all NEC students as a community group

individualized, self-directedindividualized, self-directed, curious learnerscurious learners – students self-select what they want or be directed to what they need

collaboratecollaborate with faculty mentors in the creation, use, & assessment of resources

array of learning experiencesarray of learning experiences – allows for multimedia, interaction, discussion, & enhancements to workshop content

new approaches to learning that recognize the strengths new approaches to learning that recognize the strengths & needs of adult learners& needs of adult learners – can review at their own time & own pace, access to resources for unit students is enhanced, & access to self-assessments

STAFFING & RESOURCESSTAFFING & RESOURCES► Started as an online repository of academic support Started as an online repository of academic support

workshop materialsworkshop materials► Student services materials then were addedStudent services materials then were added► PLA & degree planning resources were addedPLA & degree planning resources were added► Collaborative effort of PEs & faculty helping to grow the Collaborative effort of PEs & faculty helping to grow the

space both in terms of content & how the group is usedspace both in terms of content & how the group is used► Training & access to the space available to all NEC Training & access to the space available to all NEC

employees from support staff through Deanemployees from support staff through Dean► FUTURE – co-creation of materials with students, FUTURE – co-creation of materials with students,

networking, peer-tutoring, & so much more…networking, peer-tutoring, & so much more…

Assessment & EvaluationAssessment & Evaluation► Actively seeking student, faculty, PE, & support Actively seeking student, faculty, PE, & support

staff input as site is developing – Center meetings, staff input as site is developing – Center meetings, study groups, workshops, etc.study groups, workshops, etc.

► Template development & “retro-fitting” – Template development & “retro-fitting” – consistency & ease of useconsistency & ease of use

► Each module will have an evaluation of the Each module will have an evaluation of the materials & ask for suggestionsmaterials & ask for suggestions

► Usage reports to determine how & who Usage reports to determine how & who Can more appropriately target resources based on Can more appropriately target resources based on

demand, ask for feedback, & seek input for other areas of demand, ask for feedback, & seek input for other areas of interest/need interest/need