Starting at a new school can be both exciting and overwhelming. A well-designed orientation is crucial for guiding students through this transition, providing them with the resources, services, and expectations they need to succeed from day one.
As education increasingly shifts online, institutions are turning to virtual orientations to provide students with the flexibility and accessibility they need to balance work, family, and academics. The effectiveness of these online orientations hinges not only on the platform but also on the quality of the content it delivers. Engaging, informative, and inclusive content lays the foundation for a meaningful orientation experience.
When done right, an orientation sets students up for success, improves retention, and creates a positive first impression of the school. As experts in higher education marketing and content, Acevox explores the best practices for developing content for online orientations to shape the entire experience in a way that resonates with students and equips them for success.
Why Your Orientation Content Should Follow Best Practices
Following industry best practices when developing online orientation content is essential to ensure that the experience is engaging, effective, and accessible to all students. Adhering to certain standards helps provide a framework for consistent, high-quality content that aligns with the institution's learning objectives and supports students' needs.
Orientations that follow these standards are more likely to keep students engaged through clear structure, interactive elements, and multimedia content that accommodates different learning styles. Research supports this: students who complete orientations designed with best practices in mind persist at a rate 17.4% higher than those who do not, emphasizing how impactful thoughtful design can be on student success. When students are engaged, they’re more likely to participate in the orientation, understand the information, and actually put it to use when they need support from a campus resource.
By following best practices, institutions can create a polished, effective orientation experience that leaves students feeling prepared and connected.
5 Best Practices for Creating Successful Online Orientation Content
Creating an impactful online orientation content requires a thoughtful approach to design, accessibility, and student engagement. Below is a list of best practices and actionable tips, developed by the higher education experts at Acevox, to craft and enhance content in support of student success.
1. Align Content with Learning Objectives
Aligning content with clear learning objectives ensures that students understand what they need to know and achieve by the end of each module. This focused approach helps prioritize essential information, preventing content overload while guiding students through a purposeful academic journey.
Starting with goals for each module and working backwards to create relevant content will help students meet those goals. Present only the most essential information to students, while providing any additional links as further resources.
2. Keep Content Clear, Concise, and Organized
Breaking information into manageable sections with headings, bullet points, and summaries can make it easier for students to digest and retain what they’re learning. Simplifying language and focusing each module on only one key topic ensures students can quickly understand and apply what they learn practically.
3. Ensure Content is Accessible
Content should be designed to adhere to ADA and WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards so that it can meet the diverse needs of all students, including those with disabilities. Incorporating features like captions for videos, alt text for images, downloadable transcripts for audio files, and high-contrast designs will ensure accessibility for all students.
When designing your content, test it across multiple devices to confirm it’s accessible on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
4. Focus on Student-Centered Content
Creating student-centered content ensures that the orientation is relevant, engaging, and supportive of students' needs and experiences. This approach involves using conversational language, addressing students directly, and including activities that encourage personal reflection and goal-setting. By focusing on the student journey, institutions can foster a sense of belonging and empower learners to navigate their academic path with confidence.
5. Create Interactive Content for Student Engagement
Making content interactive boosts student engagement by transforming passive learning into an active experience. Incorporating elements like quizzes, polls, and surveys keeps students involved and reinforces key concepts. Interactive activities also help make the orientation more enjoyable while encouraging students to connect with the material on a deeper level.
Embedding interactive elements (clickable FAQs, virtual tours, etc.) can include progress bars and/or completion certificates, and the implementation of discussion boards or chat features for peer interaction. Additionally, keep content short where possible to maintain student attention. Aim for video lengths of under 5 minutes.
Acevox & Axis: Your Orientation Content Experts
The content of your online orientation is arguably the most important part of the platform; it directly provides your students with the information and resources they need to succeed. But how do you even begin creating the content that will stack up to that impactful online orientation? Where do you start?
Acevox can be your partner for building online orientation content. Acevox has a proven track record of creating student-focused content that boosts engagement and drives measurable results. Our student-centered approach ensures your online orientation is set up for success from the start.
Our online orientation platform, Axis, then makes it easy to implement your orientation content efficiently without compromising on the quality of the content or its accessibility. With an intuitive interface and automated workflows, Axis enables your administrators to focus on student success – Acevox takes care of the rest.
When it comes to building an online orientation for your students, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Acevox can help you develop the content your students deserve, and Axis can bring that content to your community with just a few mouse clicks.
Learn more about our content and marketing services, and request a demo with Axis today to experience the future of your online orientation.
