“hi im in ur clas wen is it”: Bridging the Online Divide; Promoting Success and Communication among Students at Developmental Levels.

Two years ago, I received this email from a student: “hi im in ur clas wen is it” with no greeting or closing; I had no idea what class this student was talking about or who he or she was. Besides the obvious problems in spelling, grammar, and email etiquette, this actually speaks to an even bigger problem. It turns out that the class in question was an online class. We know our students are online on their phones and tablets practically 24/7, so why is online instruction such a problem? It is problematic in many ways even with seasoned students, but for students in developmental courses, the problems are more difficult. Many would say it is better not to offer these courses online for this very reason; however, these are often the students who most need an alternative venue because they are working, caring for young children and/or elders, and lack the resources to physically come to campus. Engagement is touted as the solution, but how do we achieve it? How do we even get them to the courses? The aim of this roundtable discussion is to discover what our students in the developmental courses need to be successful in the online venue and how best to create it with them. It is about promoting equal access to education in an unequal world.