#IOLchat Archive

#IOLchat meets Wednesdays at 12PM ET to discuss trends and issues in online education.

Wednesday July 13, 2016
12:00 PM EDT

CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:01 PM EDT

Welcome to the chat! Who is joining in today? #InsideOnlineLearning #IOLchat? #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:01 PM EDT

Welcome to the chat! Who is joining in today? #InsideOnlineLearning #IOLchat? #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:02 PM EDT

Hello from Colin Easom with Pima Medical Institute Online! #iolchat
skipowderhound Jul 13 @ 12:02 PM EDT

Aloha! I'm in #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:02 PM EDT

@ceasom Hello, Colin! Hope all is well in AZ this week. :) #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:03 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Doing well so far.... you? #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:03 PM EDT

@skipowderhound Aloha, Jonathan! Welcome to the chat. :) #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:03 PM EDT

@ceasom Doing well thanks! Chatting from Seattle this week. :) #iolchat
ODUonline Jul 13 @ 12:04 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Hello from sunny Norfolk, Virginia! #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:04 PM EDT

@ODUonline Hello to you, ODU! :) #iolchat
skipowderhound Jul 13 @ 12:05 PM EDT

Tweeting from a cloudy and humid York, PA. #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:06 PM EDT

@skipowderhound Great to have you with us! #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:07 PM EDT

Shall we begin with this week's #InsideOnlineLearning topic? Question coming up ... #iolchat
Moia30hands Jul 13 @ 12:08 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Hi from Quincy, MA! #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:09 PM EDT

@Moia30hands Hi Moia! Great to see you. :) #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:10 PM EDT

Q) How realistic is the concept of work/life/school balance? #OnlineEducation #Teaching #Learning #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:10 PM EDT

@Melissa_Venable A Depends on career, but self-promotion a plus w emphasis on digital tech skills and online networking #IOLchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:11 PM EDT

A1) Can be realistic if students are fully aware of workload fo school. Clear expectations, deadlines, true time commitment etc #iolchat
skipowderhound Jul 13 @ 12:14 PM EDT

Very realistic, what is the alternative? #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:14 PM EDT

@ceasom A lot of great points in there - awareness of expectations is critically important! #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:15 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd A work/life/school is today's new normal for undergrads and grads Balance is in priorities and flow #IOLchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:15 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Time commitment and workload are biggest factors often not thoroughly considered #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:16 PM EDT

@skipowderhound There's debate about the concept of "balance" in this context - the alternative? Not meeting needs of one or other #iolchat
skipowderhound Jul 13 @ 12:16 PM EDT

it does appear that it is unbalanced - homework seems to overtake work/life sometimes #IOLchat
Moia30hands Jul 13 @ 12:16 PM EDT

A1 It is an important learning curve for Ss - it is something they will have to deal with when they start work #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:16 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Hi Paul! Great to have you here! #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:16 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd @ceasom Reply: like time on task expectations allows prioritizing for better balance #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:17 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Priorities, yes! Which can and do shift. Can you say more about flow? #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:17 PM EDT

Hello all, I'm grading but will pop in and out. I don't see these as separate concepts. Work=life=school. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:17 PM EDT

RT @Moia30hands A1 It is an important learning curve for Ss - it is something they will have to deal with when they start work #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:18 PM EDT

@skipowderhound Interesting observation there - work/life may be balanced, but adding school can throw things off. #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:18 PM EDT

Here's one of the best pieces of research on this topic: https://t.co/dcq0Nj4Km4 #iolchat #Iamthelibrarian
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:19 PM EDT

Students leave bc they can't balance it all. This is a critical conversation. #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:19 PM EDT

@karenraycosta Hello Karen! Thanks for dropping in. :) And for the pre-chat RTs. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:20 PM EDT

@skipowderhound No worries! The chat format can be a little hectic - let us know if we can help. Thanks for joining in. #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:20 PM EDT

@karenraycosta Correct... so honest and clear expectations need to be discussed prior to enrolling. #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:21 PM EDT

@Moia30hands The learning curve is real - Students definitely need to expect this and be willing to work through it. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:21 PM EDT
Yes, needed critical thinking skills to balance subroutines. #IOLchat https://t.co/DgkeWFZ4O5
- karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:19 PM EDT
  
  Students leave bc they can't balance it all. This is a critical conversation. #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:21 PM EDT

#OnlineEducation RT @karenraycosta Students leave bc they can't balance it all. This is a critical conversation. #IOLchat
aubreybach Jul 13 @ 12:21 PM EDT

RT @CenterOnlineEd Almost time for #IOLchat! Join today at 12pmET - How realistic is work/life/school balance? #highered #onlinelearning
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:21 PM EDT

Our prospective students complete a weekly schedule to show us on paper what time they have for school with work and home #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:22 PM EDT

@karenraycosta Thanks for sharing resources - as always :) #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:22 PM EDT

@ceasom Yes. AND we need to teach students how to balance it all. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:23 PM EDT

@ceasom Time budgeting analogous to expense budgeting is vital and must be realistic #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:23 PM EDT

@ceasom Before they enroll? This sounds powerful - thorough time assessment and reflection on related skills. #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:23 PM EDT

What we never want to do is to scare students off from #highered. That's the "drowing the bunny" mentality and it's intolerable. #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:23 PM EDT

@karenraycosta Agreed! Our students services offer time mgt workshops #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:24 PM EDT

The students who can most benefit from #highered are those who will tend to have the most challenges with balance. #iolchat
edtechteam Jul 13 @ 12:25 PM EDT

Love online learning? Join us in September! #iolchat #gafesummit https://t.co/lehWmR2DUy https://t.co/5RTpOwhXRM
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:25 PM EDT

Great ideas so far! Other tips for helping #onlinestudents get ready for the "balance" and/or to stay balanced once enrolled? #iolchat
aubreybach Jul 13 @ 12:26 PM EDT

RT @karenraycosta Students who can most benefit from #highered are those who will tend to have the most challenges with balance. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:26 PM EDT

@karenraycosta Benefit of #highered may lie in applications of #online learning within life and work #IOLchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:26 PM EDT

@ceasom Time mgt is important. I've come to believe that stress mgt is even more so. #iolchat
skipowderhound Jul 13 @ 12:27 PM EDT

@karenraycosta @ceasom Agreed Karen but can we "teach" it or do students have to learn the balancing skills on their own? #IOLchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:27 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Definitely! Students often over=estimate how much free time they have. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:27 PM EDT

I don't want to lose this idea from @karenraycosta - "I don't see these as separate concepts. Work=life=school." #iolchat
Moia30hands Jul 13 @ 12:27 PM EDT
@karenraycosta @ceasom And time mgmt and stress mgmt are very connected! #iolchat https://t.co/JV0ow04W6k
- karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:26 PM EDT
  
  @ceasom Time mgt is important. I've come to believe that stress mgt is even more so. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:28 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd #onlinestudent should get a rhythm of "chunked" work that is manageable "Chunking" of responsibilities carries over #IOLchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:28 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Yup, we require the time planning piece prior to accepting them into a program #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:29 PM EDT

Thoughts? MT @skipowderhound ... can we "teach" it or do students have to learn the balancing skills on their own? #IOLchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:29 PM EDT

@skipowderhound @karenraycosta @ceasom Reply: Balancing is a skill to be taught but best application must be personalized #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:30 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Agreed! Time, stress, project management skills are transferable from home to school to the office. :) #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:30 PM EDT

To this point, our left-brain tendencies love to do this, break things down into "concepts" right? But we are whole beings. #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:31 PM EDT

We should also be helping students see how school is connected to prof. and pers. lives. #IOLchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:31 PM EDT

For ex., I had a student tell me he's teaching his son the time management techniques we are learning in class. This is life. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:31 PM EDT

@ceasom In the planning piece - are there remedial-steps students might be asked to complete before enrolling? Workshops + classes? #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:32 PM EDT

+1 RT @karenraycosta We should also be helping students see how school is connected to prof. and pers. lives. #IOLchat
Moia30hands Jul 13 @ 12:32 PM EDT

Sorry guys I have to head out, but thanks for the interesting chat! I will read everyone's posts later when I return #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:32 PM EDT

@Moia30hands Thanks so much for joining in! Great to see you ... will have a transcript available later today. :) #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:33 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Only if they're missing pre-reqs, but our time-planning with them works. We have retention exceeding 90% #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:33 PM EDT

@philosophypaul @skipowderhound @karenraycosta @ceasom I like this a lot! Practice is needed-we get better at balancing w/practice #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:34 PM EDT

@ceasom That's fantastic! Awareness, feedback, and support must be big factors in this. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:36 PM EDT
How are your online first-year experience courses making an impact? #IOLchat #OnlineLearning https://t.co/PbaH17TAeK
- karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:35 PM EDT
  
  @CenterOnlineEd @philosophypaul @skipowderhound @ceasom This is why FYE courses (done well) work. They allow students to practice school.
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:37 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Rock star faculty, engaging FY courses essential to retention and degree completion. Builds confidence & skills. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:38 PM EDT

+1 RT @ceasom Rock star faculty, engaging FY courses essential to retention and degree completion. Builds confidence & skills. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:39 PM EDT

@ceasom And it should be noted that all of these things take time, resources, effort - they don't just happen. ;) #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:39 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd I've taught FYE online and land-based at several schools. Success rates are always higher for completers. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:39 PM EDT

@karenraycosta @CenterOnlineEd @skipowderhound @ceasom And absence of this piece may create a dangerous sink-or-swin env #IOLchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:40 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd @ceasom Also, administrative buy-in #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:42 PM EDT

So, what's your advice for #onlinestudents who feel like they are "sinking" in their courses? #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:44 PM EDT

@karenraycosta @ceasom This is important! Identifying this person could be challenging, but ... it could make all the difference #IOLchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:44 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Reply: Review safety protocol -- do I know what is expected? Have I communicated w instructor or peers? #IOLchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:45 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Ideally institutions are proactive and don't let students reach this point. #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:45 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd @karenraycosta Admin checks and balances need to be in place for early identification of struggling students #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:45 PM EDT

We need to create environments where students feel able to ask for help. See Cox's The College Fear Factor for more on this. #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:46 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Really like the idea of a safety protocol in a program and/or course - nice way to communicate this kind of info. #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:46 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Yes and no. Non-participation is a sure sign of struggle. #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:47 PM EDT

@karenraycosta @CenterOnlineEd We have weekly retention mtgs w/ student services, admin, & program directors, LMS reports help too #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:47 PM EDT

@philosophypaul @CenterOnlineEd Where I teach now, all of the above. In previous schools, no one really. It varies. #iolchat
karenraycosta Jul 13 @ 12:47 PM EDT

@philosophypaul @CenterOnlineEd 110% there should be a clear system around outreaching struggling online students. #iolchat
philosophypaul Jul 13 @ 12:48 PM EDT

@karenraycosta @CenterOnlineEd Combined analytics warning systems allow networking for Ss benefit. Yes. #IOLchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:51 PM EDT

Helpful ideas shared today! Many thanks to @ceasom @skipowderhound @ODUonline @Moia30hands @philosophypaul and @karenraycosta! #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:52 PM EDT

@jshamsy we missed you! #iolchat
ceasom Jul 13 @ 12:54 PM EDT

@CenterOnlineEd Thanks for another great chat! Enjoy the rest of your day :) #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:55 PM EDT

@ceasom Thank you, Colin! have a good week. :) #iolchat
CenterOnlineEd - Moderator Jul 13 @ 12:56 PM EDT

@philosophypaul Thanks for your contributions, Paul! Great to have you here. :) #IOLchat