Educating Adult Learners: Bridging Learners’ Characteristics and the Learning

Posted: January 24th, 2023

Orienting Your Online Learners: Culminating Assignment

Question 1

The institution for which you are teaching online is considering developing a Level 1 orientation to online learning and has formed a committee to research the matter. You know how important an orientation to online learning is, so you have volunteered to serve on the committee. At the first meeting, the committee chair asks for reasons why the institution should develop an orientation to online learning.

What would you say? Cite sources to support your answer.

Your answer to the question:

Your facilitator’s feedback on your answer to the question:

Your revised answer to the question (if necessary):

Question 2

Option 1: After hearing all the reasons in support of developing an orientation to online learning, the committee has decided that it will indeed develop one. You’ve agreed to continue serving on the committee, which is now planning the orientation. Each committee member has been asked to make recommendations on the following items:

1. What to include in the [Level 1] orientation

2. How to conduct the orientation

3. If the orientation should be optional or required

What would your recommendations be, and why? Cite sources to support your answer.

Option 2: If your institution already offers a Level 1 orientation, describe:

1. What is included

2. How it is conducted

3. What it does well

QM is about continuous improvement. In the spirit of continuous improvement, and based on what you have learned in the workshop, what recommendations would you make to improve your institution’s Level 1 orientation? Cite sources to support your answer.

Your answer to the question:

Your facilitator’s feedback on your answer to the question:

Your revised answer to the question (if necessary):

Question 3

You’re having lunch with Theresa, another faculty member who teaches online, when the topic of orienting learners to online courses comes up. Theresa says, “I don’t see why it’s so important to orient learners to each course. It seems like such a big waste of time that would be better spent on the content.”

How would you respond to Theresa? Assume Theresa’s institution has a Level 1 orientation to online learning. Cite sources to support your answer.

Your answer to the question:

Your facilitator’s feedback on your answer to the question:

Your revised answer to the question (if necessary):

Question 4

After listening to your explanation of the importance of orienting learners to online courses, Theresa is now convinced that she needs to orient learners to her course. She asks for your advice on what to include and how to include it in her course.

What advice would you give to Theresa? Cite sources to support your answer.

Your answer to the question:

Your facilitator’s feedback on your answer to the question:

Your revised answer to the question (if necessary):

12/30/21 © 2021 Quality Matters Page 1

Ho Y.Y., Lim W.Y.R. (2020)  Educating Adult Learners: Bridging Learners’ Characteristics and the Learning Sciences  Links to an external site. . In: Sanger C., Gleason N. (eds) Diversity and Inclusion in Global Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore.

2. Shaw, M., Burrus, S., & Ferguson, K. (2016).  Factors that influence student attrition in online courses  Links to an external site. .  Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, 19(3).

3. Fairmont State University.  Characteristics of a Successful Online Student. Links to an external site.

4. MIT Office of Digital Learning (2017).  Learner Analysis Links to an external site. . Digital Learning Toolkit.

SOLUTION