ORA1 – Orientation

Course Structure

  • One Performance Assessment (PA): Write a paper outlining your preparedness for the program. 5-10 minutes.

Time to Complete

  • “6-8 hours”, but you can easily complete orientation in 1-2 hours.

ORA1 - Orientation Course at WGU

Orientation is available for students after the 15th of the month before the first day of the term. So, if your start date is January 1st, then you can start on December 15th the month before.

Course Structure

  • Course Content: 9 units comprising videos, texts, and quizzes.

  • Assessment: One performance assessment at the end of the course.

  • Time Estimate: “6-8” hours, but 1-2 hours is more reasonable.

Key Steps to Complete ORA1 - Orientation

1. Start the Course

  • Log in to the WGU student portal and activate the Orientation course.

  • Follow the prompts to access the course material.

2. Complete the 9 Units

  • Each unit covers essential topics like competency-based education, WGU resources, and time management.

  • Optional videos and self-assessments are included. The self-assessments are a few words or a sentence long, I don’t know if anyone reviews them.

  • The green check marks seem to not matter, there were some pages that no matter how many times I completed the page and refreshed the page I could not get a green check mark. I don’t know if you have to complete the 9 units.

3. Take the Unit Quizzes

  • Each unit has a low-stakes quiz to assess your understanding. Not to worry, if you make a mistake you can try again.

  • Not sure if the quizzes even need to be completed. The platform was not showing I completed them even after submitting correct answers.

4. Submit the 2-Page Performance Assessment

  • The assessment is a simple task involving personal reflections and WGU resources. For me there were five questions, each can be answered in a sentence or two.

  • The walk-though is in Unit 9 on the last chapter. There is a video showing what you have to do.

  • Follow the provided rubric and template for clarity. That and the questions for the paper are in the Portal under Courses, Orientation.

  • The questions should only take 5-10 minutes. I put “X”s in the table for the hours where I would be studying. I filled out 20 hours using 40 X’s of study time.

  • Submit via the student portal. Evaluation may take up to 72 hours. I received mine in 24 hours.

  • If revisions are needed, edit and resubmit promptly.

5. Complete the Personal Learning Guide

  • Available after passing the performance assessment.

  • This guide helps you reflect on strengths and align your goals with academic plans.

Tips for Success

  1. Use Recommended Resources:

    • WGU orientation videos (e.g., “How to Submit the Orientation Assessment”) at the end of Unit 9.

  2. Technical Requirements:

    • Use Chrome or Firefox for a smoother experience.

  3. Engage with Support:

    • Reach out to the Orientation team for assistance:

      • Phone: 1-877-214-7008, Option 1

      • Email: orientation@wgu.edu

    • Check announcements for webinars or support sessions.

Final Notes

  • Reach out to your program mentor for guidance and motivation.

  • Read the Rubric in the Student Portal, for the assignment.

  • Ensure to review the official WGU materials, as courses may change over time.

  • This summary is based a 126 page document.