Thrust into online learning at scale in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina--a disaster that put 45 percent of its physical campus out of commission--New Orleans-based Delgado Community College experienced the aftershock of realizing that many of its students were not "online ready." Success rates—and therefore retention and completion rates—suffered just because of a student skills gap in online education.

A self-guided online learning module, DORM—Delgado's Online Readiness Module—has made a big difference even as a doubling of enrollment since 2006 has put further pressure on available classroom space at Delgado. CT spoke about DORM with Delgado Assistant Dean Rene Cintron (photo, above), who leads institution-wide planning and research activities relevant to student success and retention under the college's Quality Enhancement Plan.

Mary Grush: Are students today really not prepared to hop right into online learning without some type of training?

Rene Cintron: They are really not prepared. A general knowledge of how to use computers and some experience being online helps, but does not necessarily prepare them for success in an online learning environment.

Grush: How did Delgado determine that?

Cintron: In a very dramatic way, in the beginning. In 2005, nearly 45 percent of our physical campus was destroyed...