Thank you for visiting our website for our poster "Global Gateway: Leveraging an Online Learning Management System for International Orientation." We wanted to provide some additional information we were not able to fit on the poster and elaborate on some of our methodology.
Tulane International Population
Tulane University's Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) provides leadership in the internationalization of the University by supporting the Tulane international community and facilitating cross-cultural interaction. By way of support, OISS offers quality programs and services and ensures compliance with federal immigration regulations. In addition, OISS is the designated office on campus to provide immigration advising and support services to Tulane's international community. The primary community we serve are individuals at Tulane in F, J, H, and TN status and their families. We also welcome anyone who identifies as international (such as international students sponsored by Fulbright or dependents of people in other visa categories). Our strong belief is that a vibrant international community enriches Tulane University and the New Orleans community and is an essential entail component to understanding our role within the world community.
*data as of spring 2024
Origins of Our Online Orientation
Learn why we switched to delivering our Orientation content online, and what our initial struggles were with delivering it in this format.
The inception of the OISS Online Orientation occurred amidst the challenges of COVID-19 in 2020. The surge in demand for digital resources during the pandemic underscored the necessity for such a platform, as individuals sought ways to adapt to a fully remote environment. Drawing insights from various NAFSA webinars and virtual exchanges with peers in the field, we swiftly embarked on the development of an online orientation using Canvas, the University Learning Management System (LMS). Our approach to orientation had already shifted before the pandemic, favoring a lighter content load for in-person sessions. Consequently, with the need to find a home for the surplus information, the creation of an online orientation became paramount. We initiated the process by integrating content onto our website, laying the groundwork for the comprehensive online resource.
Pre-existing pre-departure communications necessitated the transition into a Canvas course format. A dedicated Tulane student intern, assisted in the development of the online orientation. Her familiarity with Canvas facilitated the process. The period was characterized as a "time of crisis" as Tulane University experienced a temporary shutdown in Spring 2020 followed by reopening. This prompted initiatives like Teaching Anywhere, where efforts were directed towards supporting faculty in launching online and hybrid courses. Throughout the summer of 2020, endeavors were made to craft engaging courses within the Canvas platform. We crafted a "Meet the OISS" presentation, where each staff member recorded over their respective slides, introducing themselves and extending a warm welcome to new students. Our expedited process was facilitated by the availability of pre-existing content, enabling us to seamlessly integrate it into the online platform in a predefined sequence. To enrich the orientation experience, we incorporated short videos featuring students sharing their Tulane and US experiences. Once access to Canvas was granted, it took approximately two to three months to compile all the elements. Three mandatory quizzes covering status information for F and J students, essential tips, and Title IX were also developed as part of the orientation.
We sent emails to students within a week of document creation letting them know they have been added to the course. We also arranged meetings with each admitting department to provide them access to the online orientation. Additionally, we informed department contacts about this access through MailChimp emails.
Time constraints posed challenges as we juggled recording presentations, generating content, and swiftly launching the orientation to meet the needs of incoming studets. Since it was still early in the pandemic, there were also challenges with staff accessing technology to record and create video content. Video creation proved to be particularly challenging. Creating the Online Orientation took substantial effort, especially given the additional strain of operating within a crisis context. While we managed to implement quizzes, grappling with pulling and utilizing reports for check-ins remained an issue. Additionally, we had issues with capturing transfer students and successfully tracking them in the course and the communications process. This often involved manual effort for individual students, which increased the burden of the process.
Content of Our Online Orientation
The OISS Online Orientation is designed to be a comprehensive resource where students can get all the information they need in one place. Students can move through the course at their own pace, and students can refer to the content whenever they need to. The course launched in 2020 with four modules: introduction to OISS, immigration information, healthcare information, and housing resources. Over time, the course has evolved and now hosts 10 Modules with engaging media, videos, and content. The 10 Modules are:
Provides an overview of the course format in a “syllabus” structure similar to an actual class and explains the basic features available in Canvas.
Provides an overview of our office and our services, and also introduces new students to our staff and student Orientation Leaders
Provides a series of videos relating to international student status and has a quiz that students must pass as part of the check-in.
Provides information on obtaining a visa and tips for the visa interview.
Provides information on housing for students. Undergraduate students are guaranteed housing on campus, so this module informs them about on-campus housing policies and options available. For graduate and exchange students, on campus housing is not guaranteed, so this Module informs them about how to find off-campus housing
This module provides information about student health insurance and explains the U.S. healthcare system. It also provides an overview of health services available at Tulane, including the Counseling Center, the pharmacy, and the Student Health Center
Provides information about how to navigate Tulane resources and systems. Additionally, it includes information on how to get involved on campus. Last, we quiz international students on Title IX and sexual harassment and we require students complete this as part of their check-in.
This module provides information about New Orleans, including transportation, activities, restaurants, and more. There is also information about hurricane preparedness and safety resources, like the Tulane Police Department and Office of Emergency Preparedness.
This module provides some information on what the cultural adjustment process looks like and allows students to ask Orientation Leaders questions about U.S. culture.
This module provides key arrival information, including important in-person orientation information and information about the required online check-in.
How to Pull Data from Canvas
Pulling data from Canvas is a great way to track student progress and see what content students engage with the most. To view engagement data in Canvas, follow these steps:
- Open your Canvas course
- If you have Admin privileges, you can click the “New Analytics” tab to view course activity
- Click on the “Weekly Online Activity” to view trends in page views and participation. Here, you can also view what pages are the most viewed overall and for specific date ranges.
Design of Online Orientation
The design of our course is done in an intentional way that utilizes principles of design theory. These principles, such as measurable and defined learning objectives and outcomes, discussion-based learning and self-guided exploration, and intentional construction and order of content that builds off previous modules, allows for our Online Orientation to be a comprehensive and cohesive experience. See some images below from our Online Orientation
Example of the first page of a Module that features the "Goals" for the Module, the "To-Do List" activities, and the "Required Pages" you must view to unlock the next Module. Also featured is a progress bar so students can monitor their progress in a Module.
Example of the last page of a Module that features the "Learning Outcomes" to remind students what they have learned.
This is an example of some of the engaging content we he in Canvas. In this video, students learn about our office and what services we offer (e.g. help with extensions, reduced course loads, cultural adjustment advice, etc.). We also provide a video transcript in case and Closed Captions in case students have difficulty understanding the video.
An example page showing an engaging graphic and explaining a resource at Tulane that is available to international students. This demonstrates how having content that isn't just required (like immigration information), can be helpful and beneficial to international students.
This is the page that unlocks in the last Module once the students have completed the required quizzes in the previous Modules. This page leads to an E-Form which students must certify they have completed the quizzes. Students can only access this page if they have completed the quizzes, so this removes the burden of having to run reports from Canvas of students who have completed the requirements.