The Transition and Peer Assisted Learning projects overseen by Bournemouth University and with a particular focus on widening participation students, sought to:
Develop good practice guidelines to aid social and academic integration of students, through understanding their needs and expectations
Share knowledge of existing practice and interview STEMNET ambassadors for their perspectives on working with widening participation groups
Investigate different models of PAL, including the development of an on-line approach
Develop a set of institutional guidelines to guide the adoption, implementation and practice of PAL
The projects' CLJ drew upon the thoughts, knowledge and experiences of a range of academic and support practitioners as well as disability specialists and students. Captures were done through video, audio and photography with a total of 26 media cards produced. A few examples follow; for the full range, head to CreativeSTEM.
Preparing students for the experience of coming to university is a major challenge to turn excellent A level results into first class degrees, says Director of Studies for the University of Bristol's School of Physics, Dr Helen Heath.For a full transcript of this audio, head to www.creativestem.co.uk. This activity was undertaken as a part of the National HE STEM Programme, via the South West Spoke. For more information on South West Spoke projects, please see www.hestem-sw.org.uk. For more information on the overall national programme, please see www.hestem.ac.uk
Stand first: Mathematics and Statistics Resource Centre Development Officer, Dr Emma Cliffe of the University of Bath, explains how a Maths Cafe can help retain students and make the transition to university life easier.This activity was undertaken as a part of the National HE STEM Programme, via the South West Spoke. For more information on South West Spoke projects, please see www.hestem-sw.org.uk. For more information on the overall national programme, please see www.hestem.ac.uk
Teaching & Marcia Ody, Teaching & Learning Manager at the University of Manchester, explains how PALS establishes partnerships between academics, support and administrative staff and builds those partnerships between staff and students at every level.This activity was undertaken as a part of the National HE STEM Programme, via the South West Spoke. For more information on South West Spoke projects, please see www.hestem-sw.org.uk. For more information on the overall national programme, please see www.hestem.ac.uk
It's not just academic development that universities need to focus on, argues Professor Liz Thomas. The Director of the 'What Works' Student Retention and Success Project says social and pastoral development is equally important to making students feel like they belong in higher education and to building strong retention levels.For the full transcript of this audio, head to www.creativestem.co.uk. This activity was undertaken as a part of the National HE STEM Programme, via the South West Spoke. For more information on South West Spoke projects, please see www.hestem-sw.org.uk. For more information on the overall national programme, please see www.hestem.ac.uk
Remember, the full selection of media cards for the Transition & PAL CLJ can be accessed at www.creativestem.co.uk
