Taking an online course can become overwhelming and confusing to a student, especially the non-traditional student. Developing strategies to help students start the semester can provide a successful educational experience for both the online student and the online instructor. This presentation explored how four colleges in Illinois are helping both instructors and students succeed in the online environment by providing meaningful orientations, developing comprehensive syllabi, using early warning systems, monitoring and promoting retention, publicizing and using support systems, promoting and using contingency plans and providing early feedback. A prelude to over 75 sessions to be presented during the Illinois Online Conference (IOC) 2006, this free live online session was sponsored by ILCCO, IOC 2006 and LearningTimes. Please join us! [Learn more about the panelists below.]

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About Patrice Hess:
Patrice Hess is the Coordinator of Instructional Technology at Illinois Central College. Patrice is pursuing her doctorate of education at Illinois State University and holds an MS in Instructional Technology from Western Illinois University and a BS in Speech and Theatre Education from Bradley University. Patrice coordinates distance learning at ICC which includes two-way interactive video, telecourses, hybrid and online courses. Patrice facilitates Illinois Central College’s Quality Online Course initiative by which online courses are reviewed, with faculty and administration, on the basis of quality guidelines developed by faculty, administrators and professional staff at ICC. Patrice also provides technical and pedagogical faculty development and support through ICC’s Teaching and Learning Center.

About Molly Herman Baker, Ph.D.:
Molly Herman Baker, Ph.D., is the Director of the Teaching/Learning Center and Online Learning at Black Hawk College in Moline, IL. Molly develops the training and faculty support for instructors teaching at a distance (online, ITV, hybrid, dual enrollment) as well as new online student orientation. She also coordinates the wide range of BHC support services for community college teaching in general. She has worked for the Girl Scouts as an adult development specialist, for Western Illinois University as Director of Faculty Support for Technology Integration and later for WIU as a faculty member in the Instructional Technology and Telecommunications Department. In this latter capacity, she taught all but one of her courses in online, hybrid or interactive TV (satellite and compressed video) formats. She has also operated her own consulting firm, New Leaf LearningDesigns, where she has worked for a broader range of organizations interested in technology-assisted life-long learning designs to achieve their goals.

About Chris Shelley:
Chris Shelley is the Director of Instructional Technology at Sauk Valley Community College. Chris holds an MS in Instructional Technology from Western Illinois University. Chris and her staff support distance learning at SVCC which includes interactive video, hybrid, and online courses.

About Emily Vescogni:
Emily Vescogni is the Director of Learning Technologies at Illinois Valley Community College. She has worked with distance learning students for 15 years, both in her current position and as a librarian at IVCC. Emily is responsible for orienting students to distance learning formats, which she does through on-campus sessions or an online format alternative. She is sensitive to the needs of online learners, as she earned her graduate degree online. (Emily will not be presenting on January 31, 2006, but has contributed to the content and organization of the presentation.)