Proposals

Instructional Technology Conference 2009

Title: Using an Online Learning Platform as an Advising Tool: A Pilot Test

Name: Dr. K. Virginia Hemby, COI

Audience: Faculty, presidents, provosts, deans, librarians, lab directors, instructional technology specialists

Length: One Hour

Abstract: University/college officials and faculty are continually seeking alternative methods for advising

students. This session will introduce participants to an advising site that was created using the online learning platform Desire2Learn. During the session, participants will be able to view (and hear, in some cases) the information that has been included at this advising site and to judge for themselves if they believe this concept workable for their own institutional use.

Description: Advising students is a difficult task, often a voluntary one, and not always a priority of the students we serve at the college and university level. Some institutions have made advising mandatory in an attempt to raise graduation rates and to ensure that students do not "fall through the cracks"; of the system and miss important deadlines and grade point average requirements. In those cases where scheduling a meeting with a professor who has been assigned as an advisor for students is not a mandate but a suggestion, students do not feel it necessary to do so. They believe everything that is deemed necessary for completion of their major is available at their fingertips through the use of degree evaluation programs and online registration. Nonetheless, colleges and universities continue to see graduation rates below acceptable levels, and students are often enrolled for five or six years rather than the standard four that should be sufficient to complete requirements for graduation.

In an attempt to examine alternatives to the traditional face‐to‐face meetings that occur via scheduled appointments between advisor and advisee, the author of this proposal sought the use of technology as a possible tool. Using the online learning platform supported by the university, Desire2Learn, the author created an advising site that could be accessed via advisees' list of courses. The author's employer has several advising sites available on the university website; however, the Desire2Learn advising site is a part of the advisees' list of courses, does not disappear from semester to semester, and has the information contained in one location that is necessary for advisees' degree completion and specific to their programs. In addition, an online CyberAdvising Center has been created in the Chat area of this advising course, and the advisor has included specific online "office hours"; to be present in the CyberAdvising Center so that advisees may meet with the advisor from their home or work computers, thus eliminating the necessity for an appointment and for travel to the advisor's office.

The D2L Student Advising course was established in Fall 2007 and has been used by the author of this proposal from Fall 2007 through the present. In addition, a faculty member from a different department is now using the design of the author's D2L Student Advising course as a template to use for advisees in another major. The pilot test of that site is underway at the present time.

Perhaps online learning platforms have not been viewed from the standpoint of possibility— why should they be limited to online teaching/training and learning? Wouldn't they be useful with online programs where students never present to a traditional campus as a place where advisors and advisees meet, where students meet one another in a social discussion area . . . the ideas could be as endless as imagination. And, we could possibly solve the advising issue without having to leave the comfort of our offices—just create an online advising course and enroll your advisees.

Session Type: Lecture/Presentation

On-Site Equipment Requirements: Computer with access to Internet, projection unit, screen

Contact Information/Affiliation:
Dr. K. Virginia Hemby, COI
Middle Tennessee State University
Business Communication & Entrepreneurship Department
MTSU Box 40
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
(615) 898‐2369 (Office)
(615) 962‐0944 (Text Messages)
(615) 898‐5438 (Fax)
kvhemby@mtsu.edu