Online in a hurry: Intensive technology orientation for distance education students in Hawaii teacher preparation programs

As the largest institution preparing Hawaiian teachers for licensure and as the only nationally accredited teacher preparation institution in the state of Hawai'i, the University of Hawai'i at Manoa College of Education uses distance education to meet its numerous challenges. The Internet-based component of its distance education efforts poses unique challenges to student access - especially the availability of Internet service, students' technical abilities, and provision of technical support. In August, 2003, a technology orientation weekend was held for forty-five students entering two new distance education programs. Due to the geographic separation of Hawai'i's six major islands, students were flown to the UH-Manoa campus for this two-day intensive orientation. This paper delineates the orientation objectives, reviews the format and details the study results. Based on a pretest/post-test study, the model was successful in advancing most students' comfort levels in the targeted technology skills. Researchers concluded that the technology orientation weekend was effective in increasing participant's knowledge and skills in areas critical to success in online learning.