Use of social media in aiding transition to higher education

Project Team

Louise KellyDavid Young

Kelsey Gourlay

Department of Mathematics and Statistics

University of Strathclyde

Retention

http://www.heacademy.ac.uk/retention-and-success

Remain Complete Timescale

Success

Personal DevelopmentLabour MarketFurther Learning

Widening Participation

Ability Background

Motivation Knowledge

Transition

Student views

My hand was held at school

I have found it

very daunting

Sort of left to fend for yourself

You really need to be independe

nt

At school always

someone there looking

over you

I’ve not found it

hard, just different

Social media

Social media

90% of 16-24 year olds use social media

Likely to be the same across population groups

Smooth transition? Facebook group

Facebook Group

HEA small grant Set up by student Two weeks before start of term Link emailed to all new first years 90% joined by start of term

Before start of term

Is anybody in Garnett? How do we

choose our electives?

What’s everyone doing for Freshers?

When do we get our timetables?

Anyone finding the homework

hard?

Shall we meet before

the Induction lecture?

Before start of term

Survey of users 90% found it useful

Making new friends Eased the transition Helped with orientation

First semester

Has anyone managed

the Finance homework?

How do you start Q7 of

the homework?

How do you add

probabilities in Q3?

Did anyone manage to write down

the homework??

Can someone

explain the Inter-

quartile-range?

Are the tutorials on tomorrow?

Exam time

Has anyone managed the 2012

past-paper

How do you start Q7 of

the homework?

What did you get for Q2 of the

2011 paper?

Did anyone manage to write down

the homework??

Can someone

explain the Inter-

quartile-range?

Are the tutorials on tomorrow?

Responses

Most questions answered by students very quickly

Peer assisted learning Lecturer workload

Group for second years

Second year statistics class Set up by same student Almost 100% joined within first week

Group for second years

Very limited use Already had their own group, created

in first year Increased use near exam time

Conclusions

First year Group

Second year Group?