Engaging Foundation and First Year Students throughout their - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Engaging Foundation and First Year Students throughout their Transition to Brunel Charlotte Thackeray HeadStart Officer Dr Kevin Cordingley & Anna Pratt Occupational Therapy, College of Health & Life Sciences

What is HeadStart? 19 April 2018 • HeadStart is a weeklong induction scheme on campus designed to support Widening Participation (for example low income and disabled students) and students who have a non traditional route to University such as students who have been in care or through the clearing process • HeadStart week was created in 2008 to ease the transition for students with a lack of experience in Higher Education • In 2017, 2671 students were offered a place on HeadStart with 108 students attending and 82 students attending 3 or more days 2 Brunel University London Presentation Title

What Happens? 19 April 2018 3 Brunel University London Presentation Title

HeadStart Online 19 April 2018 4 Brunel University London Presentation Title

What is Flying Start? 19 April 2018 • Flying Start is a ‘mini’ HeadStart for courses that tend not to attend HeadStart in order to provide extra support for courses, departments or certain student criteria through the transition period. • It was piloted with the arts and humanities department within the CBASS in September 2017 • Two different sessions on the Wednesday and Thursday morning of Welcome Week • Session about the expectations and misconceptions of Undergraduate study using LEGO • Two study skills sessions (one on each day) on note taking and how to start an assignment • Q&A session by course with students and relevant student ambassadors • 5-6 WP and/or student ambassadors from CBASS Arts and Humanities for support 5 Brunel University London Presentation Title

19 April 2018 HeadStart Case Study: Occupational Therapy • Two academic staff members from Occupational Therapy run 1-2 sessions • Tuesday: Informing Sciences and OT • Wednesday: Learning to think as an OT: Using Seminars, reading and lectures Impact • In 2013 the OT department did a research summary as to the specific impact upon their students and found 3 key findings • Preparing and participating in HeadStart (sessions were perceived as useful) • Learning, studying and engaging in University (providing specific study skills and learning revision) • Life Transitioning and gaining beyond HeadStart (HeadStart helped students transition into University life) “….gets you over initial “HeadStart acted as a revision and discomfort …starting something reminder about academic writing new where you know nobody’.” and a re- orientation to study’.” “HeadStart forged bonds that have endured’.” 6 Brunel University London Presentation Title

HeadStart Case Study: 19 April 2018 Occupational Therapy 2 • From the last 3 years 76% of OT students who attended have progressed to Level 2 • In the past students from OT have commented about the time spent with their academic staff: “ The OT sessions were excellent and the accessibility exercise eye opening; Help and introduction of the importance of reading in OT; Learning some of the OT reading tips.” “The informing Sciences and OT was interesting because the lecturer gave us a glimpse at a style of lecture” “Really enjoyed the OT session – introduction to coming to University and meeting one of the tutors” “The OT gave me an idea of what I should expect for University” 7 Brunel University London Presentation Title

19 April 2018 8 Brunel University London Presentation Title

Issues still to Solve… 19 April 2018 • How to get more students onto campus at this time • Pitching HeadStart at the level for all students and meeting their expectations • Expanding HeadStart to still provide an excellent experience for all students who attend • Engaging students online through distance learning 10 Brunel University London Presentation Title

Discussion 19 April 2018 What could Brunel/your institution do better when it comes to transition? (For Widening Participation and non Widening Participation students) This could be in terms of • Communications • Support service involvement • Academic skills • Academic involvement 11 Brunel University London Presentation Title

Discussion 19 April 2018 How can institutions take advantage of student’s engagement from an early stage? 12 Brunel University London Presentation Title

19 April 2018 If you want to get involved with HeadStart/ Flying Start….. Charlotte.thackeray@brunel.ac.uk http://www.brunel.ac.uk/HeadStar t 13 Brunel University London Presentation Title

References 19 April 2018 • Brunel University London (2006) ‘Brunel University West London Access Agreement – applies to new entrants commencing courses in 2007/8’ Published Internal Document (Accessed: 9 th November 2017). • Brunel University London (2017) HeadStart. Available at: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/beec/academic-skills/academic-skills- service/HeadStart (Accessed: 8 th November 2017). • Crooks, B. & Danvers, E. Compendium of effective practice in higher education. Available at: https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/compendium_of_effective_pra ctice_volume_2.pdf Pp. 22-24. (Accessed: 8 th November 2017). • McKay, E. Mackenzie, A, et al. Occupational Therapy students’ Perspectives of the HeadStart Widening Participation Programme: A Research Summary. 14 Brunel University London Presentation Title