Lakeland acquires $75K grant

‘Remote Learning’ program aims to guide distance-based learning

Lakeland Community College received a $75,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation to launch an initiative poised to help students in remote learning environments.

According to officials, about 60% of the school’s fall semester classes will be conducted remotely, due to precautions being taken as a result of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The “Remote Learning Concierge Program” aims to guide distance-learning students by providing a point person who can be contacted about specific issues that differ from traditional, inclass learning.

Online classes require that students have a specific set of skills, excellent organization, self-motivation and a much disciplined mindset, noted Laura Barnard, executive vice president and provost at Lakeland.

“We know that not all students are comfortable with online learning so we are extremely grateful for this grant to develop this program fully,” she said. “This initiative goes a step further than enrolling students in online courses and assuming they will succeed.

“Not only are we putting courses online so you can still continue your education during the pandemic, but we are also going to do everything we can for you to succeed in that environment.”

Students who had never taken an online class and are unfamiliar with the process are more likely to participate less in class or drop out all altogether, according to officials. The new concierge program serves to bridge that knowledge gap so students can gain the confidence to overcome barriers or fears blocking their way.

“In the current environment, making sure students are prepared and able to meaningfully engage in remote learning is crucial to their academic and personal success,” said Timothy Burke, KeyBank Northeast Ohio’s president.

“This funding will help Lakeland Community College continue to sustain the educational services students need as the fight against COVID-19 continues.”

In addition to ensuring that reliable technology and internet connections are readily available, the program will provide tools to navigate courses and keep students engaged in order to complete class requirements such as online classroom participation.

Many remote courses hold online classroom “discussion boards” and count properly formatted and grammatically correct written expression toward the final grade, a “challenge for students who struggle with appropriate online communication with peers and instructors,” according to the school.

Many (students) are accustomed to short, choppy phrases and typos commonly accepted with text messaging, and the expectation to always communicate using fully-formed sentences and correct spelling in a digital environment can be an overwhelming requirement not found in face-to-face classes.

In a related effort to assist students with remote learning, an in-house video series was produced featuring Lakeland’s mascot, Crash.

The series of five short modules in “Crash’s Camp for Remote Learning” is designed to inform students about what they need to know about using the online class platform.

Topics include strategies for success, getting organized, tips from professors and students, and a review of resources available at the college.

“Data shows that there is often a difference between the success rates of students in the traditional classroom when compared to the success rates of remote learning students,” Barnard said. “Remote learners have been less likely to reach their course completion goals but we are hoping to change that.”

CHAD FELTON — THE NEWS-HERALD Lakeland Community College has received a $75,000 grant from KeyBank Foundation for a “Remote Learning Concierge Program.”