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Building RoadsignsEstablishing Family Buyin as a College Student

Dr. Joel A. EnglishRegional DirectorCentura College

Ten Attributes of the Successful Online Student

1. Believe in the Process

2. Advocate for Yourself

3. Perfect Your Technical Skills

4. Ensure Stable Technology Access

5. Know Your Resources

6. Choose a Program You’re Passionate About

7. Participate Actively

8. Take Breaks

9. Schedule Your Time

10.Communicate with Others

Myth of Convenience

Online learning is convenient.

Online learning is not easy.

Happy Baby Bathrobe Easy

Happy Baby Bathrobe Easy

Happy Baby Bathrobe Easy

Happy Baby Bathrobe Easy

Happy Baby Bathrobe Easy

Myth of Convenience

Online learning is convenient.

Online learning is not easy. Students must budget and

schedule their own work time. Students must maintain their

own environment and facilities.

Students must provide their own motivation.

Students must transform their study space into something that it is not.

Students need support from others.

Online Students Can’t Succeed Alone

Since online students usually complete coursework from home, family members more naturally serve as distractions than as supporters.

Family members don’t naturally or automatically convert to a useful support system; students must re-engage their family members as a support system.

Road Signs help students understand and communicate their needs to those around them while in school.

Levels of Family Buyin

Sacrifice

Commitment

Compassion

Understanding

Awareness

Presence

Presence

Presence

The online student must admit to themselves that their families are there, and probably aren’t going away. Who are they?

Road SignWho Lives in My Home?

Awareness

Awareness

Presence

Though the family might know that the student has school commitments, it is the student’s job to make them aware of be requirements and benefits of their education.

Road SignCommunicating My Need For Support

Understanding

Understanding

Awareness

Presence

Family members must understand not only the needs of the online student, but also what their role is in the student’s educational process.

Road SignConversation between Student and Family Members

Compassion

Compassion

Understanding

Awareness

Presence

Compassion means “suffering with” another person, not just realizing the toils required for someone’s success, but having an attitude that is at stake with their success.

Road SignChecking Your Family’s Attitude

Commitment

Commitment

Compassion

Understanding

Awareness

Presence

Early in an online program, it is essential that family members commit—mentally, verbally, and even in writing—to supporting the student, even changing their own behaviors in order to help with success.

Road SignFinding your Trusted Supporters

Sacrifice

Sacrifice

Commitment

Compassion

Understanding

Awareness

Presence

Being a family member of an online student means committing to personal change and sacrifice for the time they are in school. It is not a passive process.

Road SignMy Computer is for School Work

Road SignTalking about Student Finances

Discussion

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Building RoadsignsEstablishing Family Buyin as a College Student

Dr. Joel A. EnglishRegional DirectorCentura College