Virtual community of interest at capella university

ABSTRACT

Among the challenges faced by the administrators of post-baccalaureate degree programs are those of satisfying student needs and wants in ways which cannot be accommodated in the classroom. While every conceivable need and want cannot be addressed by any degree program or school, a subset of needs and wants which contributes to achieving and maintaining a suitable completion rate and improving student perception of the quality of the education experience can be identified.

This paper describes the rationale for and development of a community of interest" (COI) that empowers students, professors, staff members, and other individuals to share, discuss, and reflect on material which may be vital to individuals and their degree programs outside of the formal classroom. Because the COI is to serve an accredited online university, it must be online. Factors that may improve completion rates and student perception of the quality of the education experience are being taken into account in designing the COI.

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education

General Terms:
Design, Documentation, Human Factors, Management, Measurement

Keywords:
community of interest