Key Considerations for Choosing Technology Solutions to Support Guided Pathways

Transcription

1 INTRODUCTION Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways A Guide fr Clleges As the guided pathways mvement has grwn and evlved ver the past few years, the number f technlgy vendrs ffering guided pathways slutins has explded. The partner rganizatins invlved in the AACC Pathways Prject have been wrking with the 30 AACC pathways clleges and ther clleges thrughut the cuntry t redesign prgrams and supprt services fllwing the guided pathways mdel. Technlgy can play a key rle in imprving student success, and many clleges are cnsidering purchasing r upgrading their systems, platfrms, and tls t supprt guided pathways refrms. Yet, withut attending t essential changes in business prcesses, rganizatinal rles, and culture, clleges find that technlgy by itself will nt have the desired effect n student utcmes. Studies cnducted by CCRC and ther researchers supprt this grund-level experience. 1 We encurage clleges t be cautius when vendrs r cnsultants prmise guided pathways in a bx r sme technlgy fix t implementing pathways, and we wuld like t help ensure that yur institutin gets the mst fr yur technlgy investment dllars. This dcument is designed as a guide t help clleges plan fr purchasing and/r upgrading technlgy t supprt guided pathways fr students and is aimed at ensuring that yur cllege gets the mst fr its mney. Ultimately, the guidance prvided herein shuld help cllege leaders create the fundatin fr an infrmed discussin with bth internal stakehlders and external vendrs. USER S GUIDE: This guide starts with a set f fundatinal cnsideratins fr identifying and implementing technlgy slutins in supprt f yur cllege s refrm effrts. We then turn t identifying the specific functins that technlgy can facilitate when implementing each f the fur main guided pathways areas f practice. Fllwing, we ffer additinal cnsideratins related t planning and evaluatin f guided pathways. We cnclude with a simple planning tl t assist clleges in explring which functins under each guided pathways area f practice need supprt at yur institutin and identifying the apprpriate technlgy t assist the develpment and delivery f that functin. 1 Karp, M. and Fletcher, J. (2014). Adpting New Technlgies fr Student Success: A Readiness Framewrk. Cmmunity Cllege Research Center, Teachers Cllege, Clumbia University. Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 1

2 FOUNDATIONAL TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS Our experience with redesign and refrm has revealed a set f fundatinal cnsideratins fr technlgy selectin and implementatin. Ideally, befre purchasing new technlgy r adapting yur existing technlgy t supprt guided pathways, we generally recmmend the fllwing: 1. Develp an understanding f the specific prblems yur institutin wuld like technlgy t help address, keeping the student educatinal experience at the center f discussins 2. Evaluate internal structural and business prcess changes required fr the technlgy implementatin 3. Create a priritized list f technlgy system requirements, sliciting input frm the end-users f the technlgy such as students, faculty and student services prfessinals 4. Identify the individuals wh will be respnsible fr leading the sftware evaluatin, implementatin, and integratin prcess 5. Assess what capabilities culd be prvided by yur cllege s current systems, and what cannt be accmplished using the status qu 6. Cnduct a preliminary scan f existing vendrs and speak with peers wh have recently undergne similar technlgy implementatins TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS FOR GUIDED PATHWAYS IMPLEMENTATION T help clleges develp technlgy specificatins t supprt guided pathways refrms, we are framing the bservatins and guidance that fllw in this dcument based n Guided Pathways: Planning, Implementatin, Evaluatin 2 a ne-page graphic develped by the eight natinal partners n the AACC Pathways Prject t visualize the cmpnents f guided pathways design and delivery. In the next sectin, we list functins that technlgy can facilitate under each f the fur main guided pathways areas f practice (fund in the green-shaded Implementatin sectin n the upper right f the graphic), specifically: 1. Clarify the Paths t Student End Gals 2. Help Students Chse and Get n a Path 3. Help Students Stay n their Path 4. Ensure Students are Learning Fr each main guided pathways area f practice, we list ptential technlgy applicatins and/r examples f the types f capabilities that clleges ften want frm technlgy systems as they implement that particular area. This list is nt intended t be exhaustive, nr is it intended t be a checklist fr the capabilities that any guided pathways technlgy shuld prvide. It is intended t give clleges ideas f the srts f capabilities yu may want t have and thus help yu (a) create specificatins fr use in respnding t vendr slicitatins, r (b) cmmunicating with yur wn IT staff as they upgrade and adapt yur systems t supprt guided pathways. 2 Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 2

3 POTENTIAL TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS 1. CLARIFY THE PATH TO STUDENT END GOALS Website clearly shws prgram maps, including jb and transfer pprtunities assciated with each prgram. Website includes access t up-t-date reginal emplyment trends, wages, and jb listings in fields related t each f the cllege s prgrams. Website includes accurate infrmatin n transfer requirements and pathways by majr fr yur students mst cmmn destinatin institutins. 2. HELP STUDENTS GET ON THE PATH Cllege has capacity t capture critical infrmatin n students thrugh the applicatin, rientatin, and registratin prcess, including student gals, interests, academic histry, hurs wrking per week, etc. Cllege prvides tls fr students t explre careers, including interest inventries, matching interests t careers (with descriptins f sample jbs), and matching careers t prgrams ffered by the cllege. Cllege has capability fr students and advisrs t create a custmized full-prgram educatinal plan that is based n pre-ppulated default prgram maps. 3. HELP STUDENTS STAY ON THEIR PATH Prgress Mnitring: Cllege maintains capability fr advisrs, faculty, and students t mnitr students prgress alng their path and have easy access t: Requirements fulfilled and thse that still need t be cmpleted Cnfigurable interfaces fr different users t easily access and cntextualize infrmatin, including advisrs, faculty, deans, department chairs, and students themselves Prgress Mnitring by Advisrs: Advisrs specifically have resurces t track student prgress and prmpt updates and actin when a student is nearing specific milestnes, including: Sftware allwing advisrs and ther student-facing departments t recrd ntes and actins that can be accessed by relevant departments at the cllege, including registrar, advisrs, faculty, cunselrs, career services, financial aid, etc. Cmmunicatin/alerts regarding student prgress and status ruted autmatically t the designated persn(s) selected by the cllege (e.g., divisin staff, prgram chairs, advisrs, students, caches, etc.) Early Alert: Faculty and student supprt prfessinals have a system fr activating assistance when a student is struggling in a curse r falling ff path, including: Capability fr faculty t issue alerts when students are struggling in class and ntify apprpriate supprt staff s that the necessary fllw-thrugh supprt can be deplyed Ability t systematically track if fllw-thrugh supprt has been prvided Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 3

4 Scheduling: Cllege has the capacity t help keep students n path thrugh slutins that supprt the registratin and scheduling prcess and the availability f curses s that students can access the classes they need, when they need them. Technlgy can supprt: Prcesses tied t a student s plan s that a student can nly register fr the curses n their plan fr the next semester; sftware cnfigured s that any deviatin frm the plan requires advisr apprval Alignment with the cllege s permissin structure fr lifting f hlds/registratin blcks Strategic enrllment management, including the capability fr deans, prgram chairs, and thers t run reprts based n students plans, in rder t predict curse and sectin demand Predictive analytics: Cupled with human insight, predictive analytics infrm the cllege interventins and early alert prcesses utlined abve. Specifically, by using high schl GPA, test scres, first-generatin status, incme, and ther factrs determined by the cllege, technlgy tl identifies which students are mst at-risk and prvides apprpriate ntificatin t advisrs and designated thers; clleges shuld ensure such predictive analytics are in line with ethical guidelines fr their use ENSURE THAT STUDENTS ARE LEARNING Cllege has capacity fr students and advisrs t recrd and track student participatin in learning activities like internships, c-ps, clinical placements, field wrk, grup prjects utside f class, service learning, study abrad and ther active/applied learning activities. Cllege has capacity fr tracking and aggregate analysis f student learning utcme assessments by prgram and/r meta-majr SLOs. Students are able t create a prtfli f their wrk and/r demnstrate the knwledge and skills they have mastered t ther educatinal institutins and emplyers. TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS FOR GUIDED PATHWAYS PLANNING, EVALUATION, AND EARLY OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT In additin t the key technlgy cnsideratin related t guided pathways implementatin utlined abve, we als recmmend that yur cllege explre a number f ther imprtant questins when selecting and purchasing technlgy, which relate t bth planning and evaluatin fr nging imprvement (see the blue-shaded Planning, gld-shaded Evaluatin, and white-circled Early Outcmes sectins f the n Guided Pathways: Planning, Implementatin, Evaluatin graphic). These additinal cnsideratins (utlined n the fllwing page) are designed t raise specific cst, timing, and slutin integratin issues that might surface during these stages. 3 Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 4

5 PLANNING What are the csts fr implementing and maintaining (and upgrading as necessary) the sftware t ur cllege s specificatins, including the csts f training persnnel t use the systems effectively? Des the technlgy prgram/slutin cme with different features depending n the level ur cllege is able t affrd? Which capacities wuld we nt have access t? Given that n single technlgy will likely cver all f the guided pathways-related technlgy slutins we wuld like t implement, are we cnsidering multiple sftware vendrs t cver different pieces f this wrk? If s, have we apprached the vendrs with questins abut integratin between different sftware packages? Has the sftware vendr discussed the length f time it will take t plan, integrate, train users, and take the sftware live? Has the technlgy vendr discussed the business prcess reengineering that needs t ccur t supprt planning, integratin, and ptimal utilizatin f the sftware? Are we ging t be charged cnsulting fees fr this service? D we have an nging plan t supprt such fees? If the vendr will nt be invlved in this prcess, d we have an internal plan t take n such business prcess reengineering and training? EVALUATION: Is the technlgy prgram/slutin cmpatible with the cllege s current student infrmatin system (e.g., Banner, PepleSft, ther) fr the versin f the student infrmatin system (SIS) currently in place? Wuld we need t upgrade ur SIS? If s, t what versin? Hw lng wuld this upgrade take? Can the integratin f the varius technlgy slutins track student chrt prgress tward the early utcmes (r key perfrmance indicatrs n the graphic), such as cllege credit prgressin metrics and transfer-level English and math attainment, and behaviral flags such as targeted prgram participatin, educatin plan status, and advising interventins? Will it allw fr disaggregatin by gender, ethnicity, age, and part-time/full-time status? FOR MORE INFORMATION Cntact Rb Jhnstne, Natinal Center fr Inquiry and Imprvement, rb@ncii-imprve.cm; r Davis Jenkins, Cmmunity Cllege Research Center, davisjenkins@gmail.cm. Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 5

6 Guided Pathways Technlgy Planning Table INSTRUCTIONS The fllwing planning table is designed t help launch yur cllege s cnsideratin f technlgy related t guided pathways implementatin. Fr each f the fur guided pathways areas f practice, the table asks yur cllege t cnsider the fllwing key questins: 1. What related technlgy are we cnsidering adpting and/r upgrading? 2. What are we trying t achieve with this technlgy? What functin d we hpe t imprve? 3. What are the desired capabilities f this technlgy? 4. Wh will use these capabilities, when, and fr what purpse? 5. What are the pririty design features users wuld like t have? We suggest that this planning exercise be cmpleted r shepherded by a crss-functinal guided pathways steering cmmittee r similar grup tasked with guided pathways refrm. It shuld nt be primarily a technlgy-based grup, as the end users f the technlgy slutins being cnsidered and thse leaders n campus tasked with guided pathways refrms are critically imprtant fr this planning. Technlgy expertise shuld be integrated especially as cmpatibility and integratin f technlgy slutins are cnsidered but the technlgy shuld nt drive the cnversatin. Nte: this planning table is intended t help initiate this cnversatin; hwever, clleges will need t underg mre in-depth planning that fully explres the adptin, integratin, cst, staffing, and training implicatins f any new technlgy and/r revisin f existing slutins. Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 6

7 1. CLARIFY PATHS TO STUDENT END GOALS What related technlgy are we cnsidering adpting r upgrading? What are we trying t achieve with this technlgy? What functin d we hpe t imprve? What are the desired capabilities f the technlgy? Wh will use these capabilities, when, and fr what purpse? What are the pririty design features users wuld like t have? Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 7

8 2. HELP STUDENTS CHOOSE AND GET ON A PATH What related technlgy are we cnsidering adpting r upgrading? What are we trying t achieve with this technlgy? What functin d we hpe t imprve? What are the desired capabilities f the technlgy? Wh will use these capabilities, when, and fr what purpse? What are the pririty design features users wuld like t have? Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 8

9 3. HELP STUDENTS STAY ON THEIR PATH What related technlgy are we cnsidering adpting r upgrading? What are we trying t achieve with this technlgy? What functin d we hpe t imprve? What are the desired capabilities f the technlgy? Wh will use these capabilities, when, and fr what purpse? What are the pririty design features users wuld like t have? Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 9

10 4. ENSURE STUDENTS ARE LEARNING What related technlgy are we cnsidering adpting r upgrading? What are we trying t achieve with this technlgy? What functin d we hpe t imprve? What are the desired capabilities f the technlgy? Wh will use these capabilities, when, and fr what purpse? What are the pririty design features users wuld like t have? Key Cnsideratins fr Chsing Technlgy Slutins t Supprt Guided Pathways September 2017 p. 10