DIRECTED SELF-PLACEMENT ANDONLINE ORIENTATION: Retention Strategies for Distance Education

Copyright GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY 2006

Governors State University Upper-division university

(juniors/seniors and master’s students)

Average Student age is 35 Students have already completed

lower-level math and writing courses Students frequently need “refresher”

courses before moving to upper level classes.

Directed Self-Placement:

Based on Dan Royer and Roger Gilles’s article, “Directed Self-Placement: An attitude of Orientation” published in College and Communication 50.1, Sept. 1998, our project reshaped this perspective to meet our own particular needs.

Genesis of Directed Self-Placement (DSP)

DILEMMA: commuter campus with large number of distance learners voluntary GSU orientation attendance traditionally very low intense student dissatisfaction with Proficiency Policy

PROPOSAL: elimination of the University Writing and Basic Mathematics

Testing Proficiency Policy adaptation of Directed Self-Placement (DSP) for Writing and Math, the implementation of a required orientation for all GSU

Undergraduate students.

Primary Benefits of Directed Self-Placement (DPS):

Shifted the University’s primary emphasis from proficiency testing to a revitalized emphasis on teaching and learning mathematics and writing skills.

Empowers students to self-select writing or math courses best suited to their individual needs.

Principles of Directed Self-Placement:

skills assessment instruments

self –inventories of math and writing experiences,

samples of superior student writing or prerequisite problem types,

information about what will be expected from them.

The Power of Directed Self-Placement (DSP):

A basic assumption of DSP is that students are capable of placing themselves more accurately than any single test or writing sample.

DSP positions students to make informed,

adult decisions (self-assessments) about their individual needs for refresher or upper-division courses.

For writing, students will be asked to decide whether to take ENGL 301 or to move directly into the course work of their major which includes writing intensive (WI) course

The Power of Directed Self-Placement (DSP):

For math, students will be informed of the courses in their program which require facility with mathematics and be informed of the required prerequisites for these courses.

DSP holds students (as opposed to a

single support unit) accountable for their individual placement decisions.

The Power of Directed Self-Placement (DSP):

DSP sends a clear and consistent message about the value the University places on writing, essential math skills, critical thinking, problem solving and technological competence.

DSP de-emphasizes the process of proficiency testing and compels the University to develop and maintain a coherent and consistent writing curriculum.

The Power of Directed Self-Placement (DSP):

DSP ensures that students who enter recommended math and English will be receptive to instruction and that less of the instructors’ time will be spent mediating conflict.

DSP shifts the site for determining a student’s writing proficiency from an exam to the curriculum of the student’s major.

Mandatory Orientation:

Presented online and onsite, the Mandatory Orientation:

operationalizes DSP provides information on all facets of

university life at GSU. promotes retention.

Flow Chart for the Technological Implementation of Online Orientation and Directed Self-Placement

Student is admitted orreadmitted to the university by the

Office of Admissions

Office of Admissions enterstudent information into

CARS (database)

Is the student anundergraduate?

Is the studentdegree seeking or

undeclared?

Does the studentalready have an

Orientation hold?

CARS initiates hold until student

completes Online Orientation

Admissions sends admission packet which includes information about the Orientation requirement

CARS exports the studentinformation via text file

for the Online Orientationapplication

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No action requiredfor orientation

Start

Does the student need toregister immediately?

No

Yes Student Developmentmanually removes hold

Student registers forclass

Student Development manually re-enters the hold (To take affect for next registration period)

(For next registration period)

Final Flowchart

Cont…

Student initiates login

Is the informationvalid for authentication?

Proceed to main pagewith welcome information

Has the user completedthe navigation through all the

Orientation screens?

Has the user completedDSP for Math?

Has the user completed DSPfor English?

No

Yes

No 1

Yes

2No

Yes

Yes

No 3

Online Orientationapplication exports

completion date and testScores to CARS

User is informed that theyhave completed the Orientation

requirements and advised onnext steps. Exits application.

(Content Navigation Detail)

(Math Testing Detail)

(English Testing Detail)

Online Orientation applicationimports CARS information

CARS imports orientation information, releases

Registration hold

Student registers for class

End

Final Flowchart

Directed Self-Placement

Directed Self-Placement

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

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Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

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Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

Writing at Governors-State University

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Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University

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Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University

Math at Governors State University