As we have discussed in our last couple of messages, one aspect of our mission at eLearning Miami is that we carefully consider the student experience.
To recap, we define the student experience broadly in that all the activities and interactions students have are touchpoints that must be part of any inclusive conception of the student experience. Likewise, in order to measure the student experience in a holistic sense requires that you augment things like surveys and data mining with interviews, focus groups and observations. Doing so will allow you to effectively address the challenges of student experience assessment.
Armed with the insights gained from these various sources, how do you begin to take actions that will improve the student experience going forward?
First, reflect on the insights to identify opportunities for you to make small, manageable changes as well as steps you could take to move toward large scale changes.
Second, look for opportunities to have more contact with students beyond the classroom in your role as mentor and advisor. Involve students to a greater degree in research or co-curricular activities to foster long term and in-depth student and faculty interaction. In your role as an Instructor, you might also create more active learning opportunities to impact the social and academic pieces of the student experience.
Third, consider prototyping or pilot testing one of these ideas to see what happens. This will also give you a sense of where you might improve the student experience in regard to your role, and how you might address any gaps in your current approach.
Most importantly, think about your profound impact on the student experience and how that experience is molded by their contact with you in the classroom and beyond.
In our mission to partner, our office can be a resource for faculty and staff seeking to enhance the student experience through digital and innovative means. If you are interested in exploring, discussing, or evaluating your touchpoints, we are here to help. Contact us today to collaborate on ideas you have on how you can improve your students' experience.
