CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS for
Online Students
in English 111 and 112:
The Students’ Perspective
December, 2010
Central Piedmont Community College
Overview of Student Focus Groups
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Facilitator training provided by ATD Data
Facilitator, Dr. Ken Gonzalez, and Eva Mejia
November 15 & 17, 2010
Online Students in ENG 111 and 112
N = 33 students (avg. of 5.5 per focus group)
Trained facilitators: Laura Bazan, Amanda
Capobianchi, Brantlee Drake, Tony Jones and
Denise Wells
The Challenges
Course
Expectations
Clarity of
Assignments
Challenges
with Writing
Group Work
Technology
Discussion
Boards
Time
Management
Self
Discipline
Grading
Instructor
Feedback
Connecting
with
Instructors
Legend:
 Blue Boxes = 4 out of 5 Focus Group Responses
 Orange Boxes = 3 out of 5 Focus Group Responses
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Course Expectations
(specifically: have to teach yourself, differences in course format between instructors, lack of same structure and assignments, the amount and
difficulty of the course work compared to traditional classes, understanding the expected format and length of assignments/papers)
What Students Can Do
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Access the
instructor/email at the
start of class
Talk to other students
about instructors
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Register early
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Attend orientation
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Read through the
pages and click through
the course
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Study
Revise your notes
before the next day
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Ask instructors and
tutors for help/clarity
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Get a planner/plan
your day
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
Give only 2-3
assignments per week
Be more clear in
explaining assignments
Make workload = to
traditional courses
Allow more time for
assignments
Organize class better
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Have students only
read key points of
reading assignments
Use live video footage
for lectures
Assign less work when
a big assignment is due
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Require instructors to
have office hours
Create open labs that
could attend
optionally
Standardize course
format of classes for
consistency
Put on CPCC website
a way for students to
check is going to
teach the class
Put the instructor’s
name on the class as
early as possible
What Currently Works
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Tutoring
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Online Help
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Academic Learning
Center
Depends on the
teacher
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Course Expectations Cont’d
What Students Can Do
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Pace yourself
Know what to look for
in the reading
Use spare time for
additional reading and
writing
Review the weekly
schedule
What Instructors Can Do
What CPCC Can Do
What Currently Works
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Clarity of Assignments
(specifically: knowing assignment timelines/due dates, understanding what the assignments are, no one to ask right away for clarification on
assignments, changes to syllabus during the semester, assignments can be in more than one place on BB)
What Students Can Do
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Check assignments
daily
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Check with other
students about teachers
Print weekly assignment
schedule
Email instructor
weekly/daily
Don’t wait until the last
minute; work hard and
early
Check every button on
panel b/c assignments
can be under different
tabs
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Be sure and erase BB
shells from previous
class – causes confusion
as to what is expected
and due dates
Provide more specific
instructions
Put all assignments
under one tab
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Standardize due
dates for assignments
Department heads
need to check
assignments instructors
are giving
Standardize
assignments in classes
What Currently Works
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Making assignments
due by midnight on
Sunday
Making all
assignments due at
the same time
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Writing
(specifically: not having multiple examples of good papers, knowing expectations of college-level work and academic format, writing essays
and length of papers, understanding correct grammar and punctuation, coming back to school after a long time and forgetting grammar rules)
What Students Can Do
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Ask instructors for
examples of good
papers
Ask other students who
got good grades to
share their papers
Get an MLA Style
Sheet card
Research grammar and
formats on your own
and in advance
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Use MS Word auto
formats (with caution)
Keep your software up
to date
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Reference websites such
as www.easybib.com
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Establish an “A” paper
database
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Provide the MLA Style
card
Be sure and cover
required writing style
formats
Offer online
references/resources
Provide emails of tutors
Provide students with a
book and quiz on
grammar and
punctuation
Post a grammar list on
BB
Give students a chance
to improve
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Include required
writing style formats
in ENG 090 and ACA
classes
Make tutors more
available/easier to
find
What Currently Works
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Some teachers
provide examples of
good papers
Classes provided by
the Library
Website on
plagiarism
Websites provided by
some instructors
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Writing Cont’d
What Students Can Do
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Read topics and
assignments in advance
Have a friend/relative
proofread your papers
Send drafts of papers
to instructors and ask
for feedback
Speak with good
grammar
Keep a Rules for
Writers book
What Instructors Can Do
What CPCC Can Do
What Currently Works
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Technology
(specifically: technical problems on the weekends, knowing how to use BB, BB not user-friendly, not being able to access BB or CPCC email from
PDA, assignments closing out earlier than planned, computer/internet access, cost of software, using 2 LMS’)
What Students Can Do
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Email instructor ASAP
and let him/her know
that you tried to submit
an assignment
Attach assignments to
emails to instructor
Turn assignments in
early
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Go to BB online tutorial
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Take ACA Classes
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Learn how to use a
computer
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Make assignments due
when someone can be
reached
Allow extensions on
assignments if computer
goes down
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Create a BB Class for
students
What Currently Works
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Offer BB workshop
for students
Make BB and CPCC
email accessible on
PDA
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BB Classes
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ACA 111
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Offer training to
instructors in BB
Standardize classes
so that all instructors
use the same format
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Ask for help
Click through
everything
Instructors accept late
assignments due to
technical difficulties
with email validation
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Instructors leaving
assignments open
through midnight
Computer labs at
different campuses
When teacher is
knowledgeable about
BB
When instructor
provides an
introduction and
overview of BB
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Technology Cont’d
What Students Can Do
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Use help tab
Take online orientation
class
Forward student email
to personal email
accounts
Use computer labs at
school
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Use the library
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Use Works Cited
What Instructors Can Do
What CPCC Can Do
What Currently Works
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Discussion Boards
(specifically: being graded on responses to other students’ posts, using discussion board posts for attendance, having to reply to a lot of
students, how to answer to questions, poor email etiquette by students and teachers, peer reviews)
What Students Can Do
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Respond in paragraph
form with full sentences
and correct grammar
and spelling
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Avoid teachers who use
discussion board posts
for attendance
Have a better response
than “I agree”
Make sure you have
knowledge of the
material before you
respond
Wait until closer to the
day the assignment is
due to respond
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Have a requirement to
reply once or to one
student instead
Assign topics that are
not sensitive/keep them
about mechanics
instead of content
Encourage students
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Eliminate discussion
boards
Eliminate using
discussion boards for
attendance
Standardize rules
What Currently Works
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Short responses are
acceptable by some
teachers
Some teachers spell
out acceptable
guidelines
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Discussion Boards Cont’d
What Students Can Do
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Don’t read replies from
students
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Don’t take it personal
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Be sensitive/polite
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Be professional/ stay
on topic
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Stick to your answer
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Check the day it’s due
What Instructors Can Do
What CPCC Can Do
What Currently Works
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Time Management
(specifically: procrastination, staying on track day-to-day, working on your own time/schedule, finding the time with work and family demands,
online course is more fast-paced and less structured)
What Students Can Do
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Set a schedule for
yourself
Print out the schedule
of what’s due that
week
Develop priorities and
deadlines
Plan/work ahead
Be protective of your
time
Turn off your phone/set
reminders on phone
Go to the Library/work
in a quiet place
Ask for help
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Give students planners
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Don’t assign homework
during the holidays
Be more motivating to
students
Provide tips on how to
be disciplined
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Teach instructors how
to use a technology
scheduling tool to
help students
Keep labs open 24
hours
What Currently Works
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ACA
Instructor’s weekly
schedule
When teachers
provide time
management tips
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Self Discipline
(specifically: motivation, not doing optional work. knowing when to check for new assignments, getting into the habit of checking BB daily if it is
your first online course, sitting in front of the computer all day, staying focused)
What Students Can Do
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Make a schedule for
yourself/ set out
special blocks of time
for class
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Get organized
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Check BB daily
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Learn how to use a PC
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Go to a computer lab
to do your work
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Set reminders on your
cell phone
Check BB when you
check email and FB
Keep your eye on the
prize at the end
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Do the optional work
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Take ACA classes
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Send reminder emails
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Break assignments into
pieces
Make optional
assignments required if
its going to benefit the
students
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Give extra credit for
optional work
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Make all assignments
due at the end of the
semester
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Give one week for
assignments to be due
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Educate students about
demands online classes
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Offer self-motivation
classes for online
students
Offer more ACA
classes
Make ACA classes
mandatory
Require instructors to
have consistent post
and due dates
Offer free breakfast
and coffee
Offer a live chat
room where students
could just discuss
school work
Require instructors to
send reminder emails
What Currently Works
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ACA 111 and 118
classes
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Computer labs
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Email
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Library
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When instructors send
reminders
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Instructor Feedback
(specifically: lack of feedback/not knowing why you received the grade, inappropriate feedback, quality and timely feedback – especially
regarding grades on assignments because don’t know what to fix)
What Students Can Do
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Ask teacher for
feedback
Ask teacher what you
can do to improve next
time
Ask what you should
avoid next time
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Ask peers for help
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Check discussion board
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Don’t wait until the last
minute to do
assignments or ask the
instructor questions
should problems arise
Ask other students
about instructors
See dept. head
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Provide comments with
grades
Assign grades before
the next assignment is
due
Post syllabus online and
provide due dates for
all assignments
Check email
daily/provide timely
responses
Get an assistant to help
with grading
Provide feedback on
draft essays
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Require instructors to
reply to student
emails within 24 hours
Require instructors to
have office hours
Set required
deadlines for grading
Accelerate the
grading deadline for
short sessions
Mandatory posting of
all assignments
What Currently Works
Overcoming the Challenges of Online Students
Challenges with Connecting with Instructors
(specifically: instructor and student schedules not lining up, communicating with the instructor, lack of contact info/not knowing how to get in
touch with them, not having/getting live conversations with instructors)
What Students Can Do
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Email instructors right
away when difficulties
or disagreements arise
Email the instructor at
the start of the class/
set up appt.
Try to communicate with
the instructor regularly
Ask for expectations
regarding level of
response
Use the subject line and
correct grammar when
emailing instructors
Talk to other
students/seek peer
interaction
What CPCC Can Do
What Instructors Can Do
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Utilize
webinars/webcams
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Utilize live /virtual chat
sessions
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Lecture online
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Introduce yourself
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Require teachers to
respond to students
within 24 hours
Require office hours
Require instructors to
hold at least one
face-to-face meeting
with the student
Hold instructors
accountable
What Currently Works
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When teachers
provide their phone
numbers
When instructor
contact info. is listed
in BB/on syllabus
Voice recordings
When teacher is
compassionate to the
challenges of students
Next Steps:
Moving from Data to Strategies
Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies
Common
Challenges
identified by
Online Students
in ENG 111 & 112
1. Course
Expectations
2. Clarity of
Assignments
3. Challenges
with Writing
4. Technology
Groups that
Need to
DISCUSS the
Common
Challenge
- Identify
groups and
date for data
presentation/
discussion.
Groups
EMPOWERED to
address the
Common
Challenge
- Identify the
groups that will
have the
authority &
responsibility to
address the
common
challenges.
How will the Common Challenges be Addressed?
Teaching
Change/
Enhancement
Policy
Change
Student Support
Change/
Enhancement
Implementation
Timeline
Evaluation
Plan
Action Grid: Moving From Data to Strategies
Common
Challenges
identified by
Online Students
in ENG 111 &
112
5. Discussion
Boards
6. Time
Management
7. Self
Discipline
8. Instructor
Feedback
9. Connecting
with
Instructors
Groups that
Need to
DISCUSS the
Common
Challenge
Groups
EMPOWERED
to address the
Common
Challenge
How will the Common Challenges be
Addressed?
Teaching
Change/
Enhancement
Policy
Change
Student
Support
Change/
Enhancement
Implementation
Timeline
Evaluation
Plan
Questions or comments?
Thank you for your time!