supporting additional learning needs polly osborne first year experience in continuing education 24...
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Supporting Additional Learning Needs
Polly Osborne
First Year Experience in Continuing Education
24 -25 April 2006
Support …. what?
• Preparation
– for student life
– for learning
• On-going support / guidance
– towards independent learning
– to help achieve potential
Effective Support
• Appropriate …
targeted at specific groups
tailored for individuals
• Timely (right thing at right time)
Preparation:
Targeted initiativesto ease the transition to HE
1. Mature students
- Gateway programme
2. Disabled students- Induction programme
Mature students - concerns
• Time - juggling commitments
• No recent experience of education
• Key skills
• Age – feeling ‘different’
… Lack of confidence …
Mature students as learners(strengths)
• Motivation
• Experience
• Transferable skills
• ‘Deep’ approach
Southampton Solent University:
Gateway to Higher Education
• Short preparatory programme designed for adults returning to study.
• Development of key skills
• Familiarisation with the university environment.
Gateway to Higher Education programme:
Benefits to university
• Supports widening participation
• Eases transition to higher education for non-standard entrants
• Aids retention of mature students
• Improves performance of mature students
Hallmarks of programme
• Student-centred
• Differentiated
• Run by central Study Assistance team
Personal
andAcademic
Development
Stage 1
Pre-courseactivities
Communication and Study Skills
InformationTechnology
Numeracy
Personal
andAcademic Developm
ent
Stage 2
Introductory activities
Personaland
Academic Developm
ent
Stage 3
Review
Gateway study programme
Choice of skills units: minimum 1, maximum 3.
Four units …
• Personal & Academic Development– identification of existing skills and learning
development needs
• Communication and Study Skills– learning, writing, presentation, library etc
• IT – basic skills : email, internet, MS Office
• Numeracy – basic maths / statistics
Student feedback
“I feel much more confident about returning to education.”
“It helped me to brush up on skills that I had not used for several years and helped me to think in an academic way.”
“I gained the realisation that I can learn the things I don’t yet know and I now have confidence that I can actually do my course!”
Afterwards
Higher rate of retention each year of HE course – Gateway students 30% more likely to complete degree compared with other mature students who did not do Gateway.
Overall achievements exceed those of general student population - 8% of ex-Gateway students gained 1st class degree in 2002, compared to institution total of 4%.
Data extracted from Student Record System, Southampton Institute
Severely disabled students
Have to manage a disability alongside their studies
They may also:• have limited experience of living
independently• have communication difficulties• fear being isolated
Hurdles … but not barriers
Induction for disabled students
Aim:
To help prepare students for university life
Induction for disabled students
• Pilot in September 2005
• 1.5 days (before Freshers Week)
• 15 students invited - wide range of disabilities – all attended
• Existing disabled students helped with planning and delivery
Induction programme
Included:
• Managing your disability within a university context
• Developing interpersonal skills
• Introductions to key student services at the university
• Social activities - to build friendships and peer support networks.
Benefits to new students
Programme provided opportunities to:
• ‘Settle in’ to new environment
• Develop friendships
• Share concerns and experiences
• Gain insights into experiences of existing disabled students
• Build relationships with staff
***** Very positive feedback from students.
***** No drop-outs during Year 1 (as at Easter)!
Our conclusions:• helped minimise social isolation • students better prepared for realities of university life
Plans for Disabled Students’ Induction 2006:• 16 – 25 participants• programme broadly similar
On-going support
Study Assistance tutors/advisers available year-round:
– skills development
– disability support
Over to you …
Comments?
Questions?
Your experiences?
Supporting Additional Learning Needs
Polly Osborne
First Year Experience in Continuing Education
24 -25 April 2006