Residential Services Certificate BLOG

The Children’s Residential Services (CRS) Certificate Program is entering its second year and the future looks bright. The first set of students eligible for a certificate will complete coursework in January and enrollments continue to grow. In talking with potential students, however, I’ve learned that people make a number of inaccurate assumptions about the online portion of our courses. These are the myths that have been the most common over the past year.

• Online courses are easier.
  

In a traditional “on-the-ground” course it’s fairly easy for a student to lurk at the back of a room, take notes, and generally be pretty passive about their educational experience. Online learning, however, changes passive learners into active learners. Online learners participate in oral or text (chat) discussions, create video materials for streamed sharing, post and respond to course discussion boards, as well as turn in what is often considered traditional homework.

• Students don’t learn as much in online courses.
  

There is a direct relationship between the learning outcomes in a course of study and the quality of the program hosting the course. The University of Alaska Anchorage is fully accredited by the Northwest Commission on Postsecondary Education. All courses offered through UAA must meet rigorous academic standards and are carefully vetted to ensure that courses offered are consistent with the institution’s mission. Additionally, the CRS courses are designed around core competencies necessary for direct service professionals who work with children and use work site practicum experiences to make sure that classroom knowledge gets translated into practical applications.

• “Face time” between student and instructor is the most important factor that students identify as influencing their own learning.
  

Educause, a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology, surveyed college students nationally to learn what mattered most to them about their course experiences. They found six factors were the greatest influences on student success. The six E’s (as they have become known) are: Exploration, Experience, Engagement, and Ease of use, Empowerment, and Effectiveness. Noel-Levitz, a similar national organization had similar results from students over the course of a five-year study. These factors can generally be classified as “quality of instruction.” The resources available through UAA to faculty and instructors help to ensure that staff strives for excellence in instructional delivery.

• Anyone can benefit from online courses.
  

Online learning is not for everyone. Students who are most successful in CRS courses are those who have a strong desire to learn, can manage their coursework within established timeframes, and are comfortable asking for help. Note that it is not necessary to be a “techno geek” to be successful. Basic computer competence is necessary. The CRS Program uses computer based supports and a student support liaison to make sure that students have the best opportunities for success.

• Online learning won’t work in rural areas.
  

The CRS Program attracts students from across Alaska. Students come from communities as small as rural/remote villages with populations of a couple hundred as well as from the larger urban centers of Anchorage and Fairbanks. The web-based nature of online courses make them an attractive option to students in rural and remote areas. Web access is increasingly commonplace in homes. Additionally, most schools and community centers have internet access. Although there are still isolated instances where a student would not have access to the internet at home or in the community, those instances are more the exception than the norm.