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Supporting Additional Learning Needs

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.

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Supporting Additional Learning Needs

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  1. Supporting Additional Learning Needs Polly Osborne First Year Experience in Continuing Education 24 -25 April 2006

  2. Support …. what? • Preparation • for student life • for learning • On-going support / guidance • towards independent learning • to help achieve potential

  3. Effective Support • Appropriate … targeted at specific groups tailored for individuals • Timely (right thing at right time)

  4. Preparation:Targeted initiativesto ease the transition to HE • Mature students - Gateway programme 2. Disabled students - Induction programme

  5. Mature students - concerns • Time - juggling commitments • No recent experience of education • Key skills • Age – feeling ‘different’ … Lack of confidence …

  6. Mature students as learners(strengths) • Motivation • Experience • Transferable skills • ‘Deep’ approach

  7. 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.

  8. 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

  9. Hallmarks of programme • Student-centred • Differentiated • Run by central Study Assistance team

  10. Gateway study programme Communication and Study Skills Personal and Academic Development Stage 2 Introductory activities Personal and Academic Development  Stage 1 Pre-course activities Personal and Academic Development  Stage 3 Review Information Technology Numeracy Choice of skills units: minimum 1, maximum 3.

  11. 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

  12. 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!”

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. Induction for disabled students Aim: To help prepare students for university life

  16. 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

  17. 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.

  18. 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

  19. ***** 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

  20. On-going support Study Assistance tutors/advisers available year-round: • skills development • disability support

  21. Over to you …Comments?Questions?Your experiences?

  22. Supporting Additional Learning Needs Polly Osborne First Year Experience in Continuing Education 24 -25 April 2006

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