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Discover more about WVU Online. New podcasts debut every other Monday from February 21 - May 2, 2022. Podcast topics will cover the importance of resumes and graduate school recommendation requests, to support services and financial aid. Listen in for some valuable tips! Let’s go!
The Online Road Map podcast is sponsored by WVU Online and produced by WVU Student Media.
Angie FINAL
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[00:00:00] Well, thank you for taking the time to talk with me about your student experience in a WVU U online academic program. As you know, WVU Online has a long standing tradition as part of the West Virginia University community, and the programs have been in existence long before the recent covid 19. Our student and alumni are doing incredible things, so it is exciting to hear more about your student experience, and I know it will resonate with other current and prospective students.
So to get started, can you please share what academic program you are in or completed with WVU Online? And what were some important program qualities that you were looking for in an online program? I just completed, I, I will be graduating in another three weeks, the instructional design and technology and the College of Human Services.
They've rebranded the college since I've been here. I started in 2018 and the reason I [00:01:00] chose wvu, it was twofold. I had been offered other universities as well within the tri-state area to study. However, being that it was all online definitely skewed me towards WVU U. Driving anywhere after a full day's work to then settle on to a classroom just really didn't sound like something I was interested in working a full-time job and then trying to be a full-time student.
So the studying at WVU online made it. So that it fit around my schedule. And once I met my advisor for my program, it just clicked. I knew it was where I was meant to be. I, I really enjoyed him. And then after my first semester, I, I was assured that I, this was the program for me with the faculty. That was for me.
That's awesome. Thank you so much for sharing. I think it's definitely important to have that connection to somebody within the campus community, and then [00:02:00] of course that having the online space and not having to be in an actual classroom, it's definitely fitting for working professionals who are trying to continue their education but don't necessarily have the time to actually.
Sit in a classroom, so that's great. How would you describe your student experience in regard to having access to your faculty members and advisors, and then also being able to connect with classmates? Absolutely. I've connected with some of my classmates. The way that has happened has been through instructors that have facilitated really great.
Discussion boards and have given some group assignments that made me have to work directly with a couple classmates and we figured out how to do it, you know, via Zoom, via emails, whatever we had to do during the pandemic. But is in regards to the faculty members, my advisor, I turned in my first draft of my.
Dissertation and I had it back in several days. I very attentive, very quick return emails. I've never had to wait for any of the faculty members [00:03:00] to get back to me more than 24 hours, and some of them have had synchronous chats during the courses, which helped to also make me feel more connected to them.
But I definitely have felt connected to both my faculty members that I've in interacted with as well as my classmates throughout this experience. That's awesome. It's good that you're able to still have those personal experiences and connections in that online environment, which is really wonderful.
Has there been anything about the online student experience that has surprised you at all? My husband got his online degree from another university, and it felt like he was checking the boxes off to get it. And I really didn't feel like it was like a checklist. I felt like it was a genuine experience where I was in depth in the information, and I've retained lots and lots of what I've learned, if not all.
So I was surprised that it felt so genuine despite the distance of being online. And some of the [00:04:00] courses being completely asynchronous. I, it still, still felt like a genuine learning experience. I think that's super important that you said that because I think a lot of times people have that concern of is it gonna be a similar type of experience or am I still gonna get as much out of it as I would in an on-campus environment?
So that's, that's really awesome that you had that experience. Can you talk about any additional WVU services or resources that you've utilized that are available to online students? Such as like tutoring, libraries, career services, or any other areas? The libraries are an amazing thing. I really enjoyed having access.
To endless treasure troves of information between the WVU libraries, and I've also used some of the online options out there to research things like Research Gate Google Scholar that I was taught about in my coursework, and to [00:05:00] have that treasure trove of information at your fingertips. From remote and not needing to come to campus really made the difference when it came to doing research and being able to delve deeper into my interests.
That's so great. Yeah. I think it's good to have those additional services that you can use that can compliment your education and just continue developing you personally and professionally. And so in saying that, how have you grown personally and professionally as a result of your W Online academic program?
That you're gonna be completing here? I definitely have a better understanding of what an instructional designer does versus an educational technologist and all the different lingo that was out there sort of looming on the horizon prior to me starting in this degree program and. I definitely feel that I am ready to be an instructional designer.
I was lucky enough to get a grad assistantship while I was doing this program, which was also remote in Davis [00:06:00] College of Agriculture doing instructional design, and I absolutely am passionate about instructional design and user interfaces. and through my coursework, I refined all of the skills. I brought some to the table with my, my past experiences, but WVU has just opened doors for me professionally and personally.
I, I just think my love of learning has been fostered at WVU from all of the great coursework and all the great professors, and I'm, the only regret I have is that I waited so long. To go down this path and start into this program, but it, it definitely is one of the best choices I've made for myself, both personally and professionally and my life.
that's really awesome and I'm so glad that you were able to grow, you know, all around really in the program that you chose and solidified, you know, you were meant to be doing that. And we work really closely with the [00:07:00] instructional designers within our online community, and so I know it's definitely a really amazing opportunity and I'm so glad you had the chance to work closely with some of our staff and faculty as well during your time in the program too.
So for. Been your favorite thing or what's your favorite memory about your WVU online experience? My favorite memory I'm taking from this, or my favorite thing is the relationships I've created with my committee. Working on my dissertation, specifically Dr. William Beasley. and Dr. Uala, they're both amazing human beings and they're open and and kind and so knowledgeable.
And I also had some great folks for qualitative stats while I was on campus. I had Dr. Shapinsky started me down the path, and then Dr. Valentine, who since left the university, were both amazing for phenomenology. And I think the way I approach learning is different at the [00:08:00] close of my degree program in that.
I don't need an assignment to be passionate about something now, like I, I can research all day, every day on different things because I'm looking at the world through the eyes of a researcher instead of looking at the world through the eyes of somebody that is praxis driven. And to want to know more about why things are how they are has really pushed me to a new level in my own self exploration of, of the world around me.
Well, I am so glad that you're able to share that, and I think that you definitely sounds like you're taking a lot with you, and we've been really fortunate to have you as part of the WVU online community as well. And whether you stay where you're currently at professionally or you explore and branch out, wherever you go and wherever you are, will be an incredibly lucky.
Institution because you can definitely tell your passion for what you're doing and what you've learned. So my final question is, what advice would you give to students that are [00:09:00] considering furthering their education in an online program, and specifically with WVU U online? I would tell them to do it sooner than later because it's very, very rewarding.
Don't let online scare you. It. There are tutorials. Your professors will walk you through how to get through the program if you're not tech savvy. If you are tech savvy, it's just a natural fit because you can be reading an article on a treadmill. You can be, you know, squeezing it in throughout the day so that.
You still have time for your family or your friends or whatever external things that you would like to pursue outside of education in your career, and that the courses that are offered online are well designed. I'm not just saying that as an instructional designer, but they make sense. They're pertinent.
they're relevant, and just do it. Jump. Take that leap and get that next degree program because it's really rewarding and fulfilling as an individual to take that next step in education. [00:10:00] Thank you so much, Angie. I appreciate everything you've shared and really value your expertise and experience, and I know I personally love working in online education and having the opportunity to work with the online students who are based locally around the country, around the world, many who are all doing really, truly amazing.
Things. So I am again grateful for your time, and I'm so glad that you're part of the WVU Online family. Aw, thank you.