Online Readiness Student Success Assessment

The Online Readiness Student Success Assessment (ORSSA) project, part of the eLearning TM program, focuses on the preparedness of students who apply to UTA to earn an online certificate. The assessment will query levels of technical access and readiness, cognitive skills, learning styles and personal organization. The ORSSA will benefit students by providing transparency of online learning expectations, availability of academic support resources and tools that empower students for success in their online learning journeys.

 

Details

Cited as a best practice in distance education that helps position students for success in online academic programs, an online readiness student success assessment will be included in the orientation experience. Students will be prompted to respond to questions across the five readiness areas below and answer two open-ended questions.

  • Technical Readiness – Access (technology requirements)

  • Technical Readiness – Online Skills (performing common online tasks)

  • Learning Preferences – experience and abilities with common online delivery methods used at UTA (discussion, videoconference, etc.)

  • Learning Organization – checklist of expectations for online success (time management, perseverance, structure)

  • Learning Skills – online learning competencies (receiving feedback, collaboration, academic integrity)

The student will be asked one open-ended question before they begin the assessment to gather information about why the student believes online learning is a good fit for them. Once the student completes the assessment, they will be asked a second open-ended question to ensure they understand the resources available.

Each student’s response will be compiled and transformed into a personalized My Online Success Plan to guide and connect them with UTA resources to support their online learning. Comments and questions posed by incoming students will be sent to college or department staff and responses sent to the student.

A research project will also be utilized to study student responses and data will be shared with project stakeholders.

Please contact Hugh Kellam (hugh.kellam@uta.edu) or Liz Richter (liz.richter@uta.edu) for more information.

Roles

Hugh Kellam* - Clinical Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Liz Richter* - Senior Director, Division of Student Success
Ann M. Cavallo - Assistant Vice Provost, Director of CRTLE

Program Resources

Candice E. Beckman - Senior Business Process Consultant
Victoria Burnett - Senior Communications Specialist
Stacey Fraser - Project and Demand Planning Manager
Arthur Go - Director of Academic Resource Planning
Amber M. K. Smallwood - Assistant Vice Provost
Holly Zander - Financial Analyst


*Project Lead