Online and on campus classrooms differ, so should advising. Instead of using technology to replicate a face-to-face meeting, the discussion should be about using technology to enhance the student experience. Students don’t want high-tech advising, but rather a supportive learning environment. How can we strike that balance with limited resources?
Institutions are constantly looking for ways to streamline their processes so we can “do more with less.” Many technologies are promising the next big advancement in advising – from social media to early alert systems to conferencing tools, but maybe we’re missing the point. When we look at the research behind technology in advising, it shows that students may not want technology as part of their advising experience. Whether it’s a Facebook page that would require engagement outside of class, or early alert systems that students find intrusive, we have to find a better way to serve the student while meeting our institutional goals. Join in a discussion about what tools we can use to give students the personalized advising experience they seek while also addressing the challenges these tools present.
This session will discuss:
- Who online students are
- What online learners want in advising
- Online learner attitudes toward technology
- How advising research can help us better serve students
- What tools and technology might help us while still personalizing the experience
- How and when to use technology to support students