New orientation model provides engaging, high-touch experience

Due to record enrollment this fall, the iSchool held new student orientation in the Illini Union Ballrooms for the very first time. According to Meg Edwards, assistant dean for student affairs, the new venue provided a welcoming experience for students and a wonderful opportunity to engage.

"Moving our orientation to the Illini Union provided an opportunity to pilot a new model in which student-to-student conversations and high-touch faculty engagement were cornerstones of the sessions. This level of interaction would not have been possible in our current building due to space constraints," she said.

Twidale facilitates discussion at orientation
Professor Michael Twidale facilitates the small group discussion at one of the tables during the iSchool orientation.

To prepare for the orientation, which was held on August 24, students were assigned homework prior to the event that included reading a current event article and viewing a TEDTalk. The purpose of the assignment was to provide an introduction to the breadth and relevancy of the information sciences, facilitate interaction and communication among students across degree programs, and demonstrate the foundation of information sciences as a field. After completing their registration, 204 new on-campus MS/LIS and MS/IM students were assigned to tables of eight. The tables served not only as their required seating for orientation but also as locations for an ice-breaker activity and a facilitated conversation around their homework assignment. Students discussed "Digital access isn't a luxury for refugees: it's a necessity" (Slate, June 2018) and “How to train employees to have difficult conversations” (Tamekia MizLadi Smith | TED2018) with their peers and the 31 faculty and staff facilitators. 

"Since they were randomly assigned to a table with a faculty/staff facilitator, this allowed the students to listen and learn from their new peers. Our goal was to help them recognize the foundation of information sciences in spite of the degree programs in which they were enrolled," Edwards explained. "Of the 71% of students who responded to the orientation survey, 88% of them either strongly agreed or agreed that this activity was useful." 

egg drop competition
Volunteer Andrea Krebs holds one of the entries in the egg drop competition, as team members Siyu Srivastava and Aakash Dogra stand by to check if their device protected the egg.

Orientation also included a lightning information session, cultural competence session, information fair, and an all-School dinner at Papa Del's on Friday night.

New students were invited to participate in optional pre-orientation activities, including talks focused on special topics, library and building tours, and a welcome breakfast that featured an egg drop competition/team-building exercise.

"I enjoyed the 'Birds of a Feather' series, especially the session on Data Analysis with Professor Turk because of how he was able to explain things by visualizing and connecting them with his knowledge of astronomy. However, the most awesome activity was the social held at the Ice Arena. Everyone was literally falling, but by the end, we had learned how to ice skate a bit," said MS/IM student Mohit Gupta.

MS/LIS student Jenna Jordan also found the optional orientation events to be extremely valuable.

"I'm definitely considering taking Professor Song's knowledge management class after going to his 'Birds of a Feather' session; the class wasn't even on my radar before. In addition, it was good to have students start thinking about careers early, and Career Services offered some excellent advice. Besides all of the useful information, orientation week was also a great chance to start making friends and connections within the iSchool. I went to every event I could, and I'm glad I did," she said.

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