The Pastoral Style of Online Education

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The Pastoral Style of Online Education
Springfield, Missouri AACIS 2005
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Abstract

• The session focuses on developing nurturing
  online communities in the facilitation of
  learning. The pastoral style model will be
  demonstrated in the context of the Drury
  Experience, the assessment of which resulted in
  accreditation for online degree programs. Other
  online programs can emulate and benefit from the
  pastoral style to achieve higher levels of
  excellence, greater faculty and student
  retention, and increased levels of student
  satisfaction.

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Drury University

• Founded in 1873
• Springfield, Missouri
• Small, private, liberal arts
• First in area to offer classes to adults
• 1,584 traditional students
• 3,006 non-traditional students
• 257 graduate students

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Drury University Online

• Began in 1999
• 2004/05 offered 177 classes
• Over 1,400 registrations
• 30-35 growth each year
• Faculty pool of 135
• Student-teacher ratio 161
• Higher Learning Commission accreditation 2004

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The Drury Online Experience Is

• Personalized Instruction
• We know our students
• Personal touch on classes
• No teaching assistants
• Relationships last after classes have ended
• We care about our students life goals
  interests

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Drury Online Profile

• Community of Competent Professionals strong
  recruitment of part-time faculty
• Interactive Setting for adult learners
• Substantive Coherent Curricula syllabus
  template and curriculum consistent with
  departmental standards.
• Assess student needs provide resources online
  services resources.
• Assessment/Quality Improvement IDEA
  end-of-course evaluations, director visits
  courses, and attention to student concerns.

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IDEA Evaluations

• Individual
• Development
• Educational
• Assessment
• 30,000 classes use the IDEA Short Form

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Progress-Relevant Objectives(average of 50,
standard deviation of 10)
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Overall Outcome Measures
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• Gaining factual knowledge (terminology,
  classifications, methods, trends)
• Learning fundamental principles, generalizations,
  or theories
• Learning to apply course material (to improve
  thinking, problem solving, and decisions)
• Developing specific skills, competencies, and
  points of view needed by professionals in the
  field most closely related to this course
• Acquiring skills in working with others as a
  member of a team
• Developing creative capacities (writing,
  inventing, designing, performing in art, music,
  drama, etc.)

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Drury Online vs. IDEA center National Average
Objectives 1-6
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• Gaining a broader understanding and appreciation
  of intellectual/cultural activity (music,
  science, literature, etc.)
• Developing skill in expressing myself orally or
  in writing
• Learning how to find and use resources for
  answering questions or solving problems
• Developing a clearer understanding of, and
  commitment to, personal values
• Learning to analyze and critically evaluate
  ideas, arguments, and points of view
• Acquiring an interest in learning more by asking
  my own questions and seeking answers

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Drury Online vs. IDEA Center National Average
Objectives 7-12
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Percentage of Classes Listing Objective as
Essential or Important
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Summary of Quantitative Data on Student
Satisfaction and Excellence

• Faculty reported that 72 used Discussion Boards
  as their Primary or Secondary approach to
  teaching. Deep learning takes part on the
  discussion board with Instructor support and
  guidance.
• This allows faculty to let the Adult Learners
  own their learning experience.
• Writing skills were improved, as 95 of faculty
  reported that some or much writing was required
  in their classes.
• 99 reported Critical Thinking as required.
• According to IDEA, Drury has one of the highest
  return rates.
• This is the DRURY EXPERIENCE Pastoral Style.

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Pastoral Style in Administration

• There is
• ALWAYS
• a human being behind the computer

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Characteristics in Recruitment of Faculty

• A lively and dynamic personality
• Personal commitment to excellence
• Willingness to learn
• Caring attitude toward students
• A sense of humility

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Faculty Support

• Training
• Salary
• Departmental support
• Provide faculty with a comfort zone
• Faculty come first as do students
• Drury Online Brain Trust
• Community Building

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Faculty Meetings Are Fun

• Hospitality
• Promotes high retention rates.
• Administrators and faculty share the future of
  the Online Education Program at Drury University.
• Collegiality and Collaboration combine to give
  faculty a stake in the future of online
  education, creating a profound sense of loyalty
  to the program.
• This shows a pastoral sense of care and concern
  for their welfare.

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Fun Fun Fun!!!
Heres Tessa!
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The Faculty Forum

• Drury Brain Trust
• Faculty Forum discussions
• On site training/workshops
• Online training/workshops
• Connect and network with other faculty

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Branding in the Classroom

• Look and feel
• Use of university pictures
• Sense of belonging and community
• Connection to the University services through the
  classroom

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Getting the Class Prepared to Learn

• Introduction week (Week 0)
• Community building is imperative to build the
  students bonding immediately.
• The Public Forum in the classroom
• Time to collect the necessary tools
• Books
• Familiarity with the online environment
• Technical Issues

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Filtering Down to the Student

• Dealing with students depends upon knowing the
  students.
• Individual knowledge of students at the classroom
  and the Online office level
• Accessibility of faculty and staff
• Chats
• Contact numbers
• Email response time
• The Instructors go a step beyond just issuing
  grades.

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Final Points From an Instructor

• Humans are at the end of computers.
• People in the office are people, not forbidden.
• The goal is not just learning history or math or
  Englishit is establishing the desire to learn
• Good education is good education (not a diploma
  mill!)
• Focus is on teachinglessons are learned each
  week.
• Learning will continue if there is a sense of fun
  and accomplishment along with Pride.

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Panel Members

• Dr. Gary Rader, Ph.D. Director of Online
  Education, Drury University.
• Dr. Joye Norris, Ph.D. Former Dean of the
  College of Graduate and Continuing Studies
  (CGCS), Drury University. Professor of Education.

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Panel Members

• Jim Caffey, M.A. Adjunct Faculty in
  Physics/Astronomy, CGCS, and Online, Drury
  University
• Chris Ditzler, M.S. Adjunct Faculty in History
  Political Science, CGCS and Online, Drury
  University. Assistant Instructional Designer,
  University of Wyoming.

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Email Addresses

• Dr. Gary Rader (grader_at_drury.edu)
• Tessa Melançon (tessa_at_drury.edu)
• Dr. Joye Norris (jnorris_at_drury.edu)
• Jim Caffey (jcaffey_at_drury.edu)
• Chris Ditzler (cditzle_at_uwyo.edu)

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Contact Us!

• Dept. of Online Education
• 900 N. Benton Avenue
• Springfield, Missouri 65802
• [phone] (Main Number)
• online_at_drury.edu
• http//www.drury.edu/cgcs/online/

Online Education Raising the Bar