Best Practices for Supporting the Non-traditional Student in Online Education
Abstract: Higher education has seen significant growth in the participation of non-traditional students during recent years. Non-traditional participants include mature students who are entering higher education to initiate or modify career paths, new citizens, members of cultures in which E-Learning is uncommon or absent, and second language learners who may possess technical skills, but who require support in applying or developing those skills in an English-dominant online course. This paper addresses straightforward strategies, developed over years of designing and implementing online courses with a highly diverse student body, which support student success. Topics covered include orienting the non-traditional student, becoming aware of cultural reluctance about seeking assistance, providing personal feedback, handling issues related to language conventions, embedding important cues, clues and reminders in course materials, and other essential supportive methods of instruction.
Presider: Maribeth Montgomery Kasik, Governors State University