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

Brunel University London

What is HeadStart?

• 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
• f 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

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Brunel University London

What Happens?

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Brunel University London

HeadStart Online

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Brunel University London

What is Flying Start?

• Flying Start is a ‘mini’ HeadStart for courses that tend not to attend HeadStart in
• rder 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

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Brunel University London

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)

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“….gets you over initial discomfort …starting something new where you know nobody’.” “HeadStart forged bonds that have endured’.” “HeadStart acted as a revision and reminder about academic writing and a re- orientation to study’.”

Brunel University London

HeadStart Case Study: 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

• f the tutors”

“The OT gave me an idea of what I should expect for University”

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Issues still to Solve…

• 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

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Discussion

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

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Discussion How can institutions take advantage of student’s engagement from an early stage?

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Brunel University London

If you want to get involved with HeadStart/ Flying Start…..

Charlotte.thackeray@brunel.ac.uk http://www.brunel.ac.uk/HeadStart

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Brunel University London

References

• Brunel University London (2006) ‘Brunel University West London Access Agreement

– applies to new entrants commencing courses in 2007/8’ Published Internal Document (Accessed: 9th November 2017).

• Brunel University London (2017) HeadStart. Available at:

http://www.brunel.ac.uk/study/beec/academic-skills/academic-skills- service/HeadStart (Accessed: 8th 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: 8th November 2017).

• McKay, E. Mackenzie, A, et al. Occupational Therapy students’ Perspectives of the

HeadStart Widening Participation Programme: A Research Summary.

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