Impact of an online orientation course on academic success of online student

Even though online courses are much more accessible, it is often difficult for some students to get started; whether it is because they have been out of the educational system for several years or they are not as comfortable with technology. Having an orientation course can assist these students in becoming more confident as they embark on this undertaking. The purpose of this study was to analyze the United States Sports Academy's (Academy) newly created online orientation course to see if it benefits students that have recently been admitted into the graduate programs. Results indicated that there was not a significant difference in the improvement of grades. However, there is an improvement in the mean grade. Students in the study felt that they were much more comfortable with the Learning Management System (LMS) after the orientation units which in turn means that they can focus more on the course content than having to learn the system. Time to complete also improved with the students that took the orientation course. This is a benefit to the students in that they are finishing the course in a timely manner. This study uncovered valuable information on the purpose and impact an online orientation course had on Academy graduate students. The process of evaluation is endless in order to have the most useful information available to students to feel capable and confident in themselves as they begin their educational endeavors. This study and orientation course (Appendix B) can be used as a resource for other educational institutions that are looking to incorporate an online orientation course.