Delivery of (Access)Extended Project Support at LSBU 2014-15: An Evaluation Louise Andronicou...

Delivery of (Access)Extended Project Support at LSBU 2014-15:

An Evaluation

Louise Andronicou

Principal Lecturer in Law

Director of Recruitment & Admissions

Schools of Law & Social Sciences, Arts & Creative Industries and Psychology

What is the Extended Project?

A mandatory 6 credit unit on several (LOCN) Access to HE courses, since September 2014, including:

LawSocial ScienceHumanitiesPerforming ArtsTeacher Training

Assessment Criteria

Some criteria:

Define a subject-specific topic for investigation;Define the aims and limits of this investigation;Be able to demonstrate extensive subject specific

knowledge

Assessment Criteria

Explain the details and analyse the nature of, the subject specific material under consideration;

Evaluate the relevance of the subject specific material to the topic;

Be able to construct sustained argument in an extended piece of work;

Use of academic citation/referencing appropriate to the form of the extended project and to the specific academic discipline.

Problems with university students’ extended writing

Superficial coverage of several issues rather than in-depth analysis of fewer issues

Descriptive rather than analytical

Lack of focus, resulting in irrelevant argument

Incoherent

Insufficient use of journal articles

Inappropriate/lack of referencing

How Does Extended Project Prepare Students for HE?

Extended independent piece of work on a topic of student’s choice

Facilitates acquisition of essential critical, analytical and independent learning

Supports transition to HE learning environment

Enables smoother progression within university

Aims of LSBU Support Programme

Help students undertake their Extended Projects

Guide FE staff as to how to deliver this double unit

Prepare Access to HE students for Higher Education

Increase applications to LSBU from Access to HE students

Ease students’ transition to Higher Education thereby increasing the likelihood of retention

Strengthen further our precious educational partnerships

Promote LSBU

How did we prepare the Programme of Support?

LSBU colleagues devised a programme of support to enable Access students to:

(i) Achieve their learning outcomes and

(ii) Meet their assessment criteria

Feedback from one of our partner colleges and advice as to timing of delivery

Working with our partner colleges

Content of 3-day programme of support sent to partner college for feedback

Constructive feedback given as to content and timing of delivery

Pilot group: Morley College and Croydon College – cohort 1

Big demand from other colleges after presentation at LOCN Conference 2014

Two further cohorts from Candi, Newham College, Greenwich Community College, South Thames College

College tutors also needed support and guidance

Content of Programme of Support

Delivered by LSBU colleagues over three days

Each day comprises:

- Workshop with academic member of staff- Workshop with Student Ambassadors on practical

exercises reinforcing material from academic member of staff

- In addition, involvement from Library Information Advisor for Day 2

- Lunch with Student Ambassadors

Day 1 – Introduction to Academic WritingHow the Extended Project prepares students for

university

The skills required of Higher Education

Techniques for identifying issues

Process of planning and researching

Depth over breadth

Introduction to features of academic writing

Student Ambassadors showed examples of their own writing

Day 2: Introduction to Research and Research Questions

Different types of research

Library based research

Tips for researching efficiently and effectively

Devising a good research question

Using resources at LSBU, with focus on electronic resources

Identifying keywords to find information on topic

Searching journal databases

Practical quiz (8 Qs) undertaken in library

Examples of Quiz Questions

Where is the print journals collection in the Library?

Answer: Level 3 Bridge


Within the print journals collection you’ll find the journal ‘Politics & Society’. In the December 2014 issue there is an article called ‘Ordinary democratization: the electoral strategy that won British women the vote’

Who wrote this article?

Which universities does this author work at?

Answer:Dawn Langan Teele (London School of Economics and Yale University)


At shelf number 340.0711 HOW you’ll find the 7th edition of ‘How to study law’ by Bradney, Cownie, Masson, Neal and Newell. What is chapter 9 called?

Answer:Studying at university

Turn to Exercise 6 on page 167. What does this exercise concentrate on?

Answer:Study skills

Day 3 - Writing

Developing the argument

Structuring your essay to show the argument (introduction, conclusion, paragraphing)

Academic voice

Checking your work

Referencing and plagiarism

Worksheet based activity with Student Ambassadors to cover skills from morning

Was the Programme Successful?

College tutors’ evaluations

Students’ ratings and evaluations

Evaluation questionnaire devised to test aims

Were aims achieved?

Tutors’ Evaluations

Morley College - Carole Preen Head of Access:

“Our students really have benefitted from these sessions and I am currently thinking about how I can link assessment to the sessions next year in order to ensure attendance by all. I am now advertising the courses for 15/16 and if we manage to fill places, we will have 40 students needing to take the Extended Project as a mandatory unit.”

“In terms of helping tutors, it took some of the pressure off explaining what an extended project is and why it is so important as you covered that beautifully.”


Croydon College

Agnes Joseph, Head of Humanities & Science forwarded two emails sent to her from her Access to Law and Access to Teacher Training tutors who had attended our sessions with their students:

Tutors’ Evaluations“Hi Agnes

Yesterday went really well all of the Croydon college students really set a great example as they always do when visiting other centres. They all arrived in good time and stayed until the end, many of them wanted to stay for longer.

They were given very clear guidelines in relation to how to begin thinking about the title for their project and what to do in preparation. They were then asked to discuss a working title and they followed the instructions given and responded really impressively.

They spent the rest of the afternoon going through some of the work of the LSBU students and they were able to ask them questions and received very honest answers.

The feedback this morning was brilliant they wanted to discuss their chosen topics and begin their research. I do believe the day really motivated them.

We were all well looked after by LSBU and we are all looking forward to part two.

Andrea WhyteLaw/Criminology Lecturer”


“The whole day was really useful and highly relevant. My students gave me their feedback this morning and felt they really benefitted. Some of them are now changing their options and applying to LSBU! We were well treated, the day was very well organised and I also managed to speak to the lecturer about adapting my teaching resources for delivering the unit – which was helpful.

I got a clear impression that they really like Croydon Access students. They have offered favourable entry onto degrees at LSBU if students achieve a Merit or above in their extended projects. Students also have special invitation to the Taster Day Nov 5th – if Ok with Michelle for them to attend. This, unfortunately means missing another Wednesday.

It was an invaluable and enjoyable day.

Kathy GreenAccess to Teacher Training Lecturer”


“Dear Louise

Thank you so much for another highly useful support day. My students not only enjoyed it but found it very helpful. It will be invaluable for not only the extended project but for many aspects of their studies. I have told them that as they have had the benefit of these support days I am expecting great things from them this year!

A few of the students were asking if they could have a copy of the PowerPoint that was shown an I wondered if it would be possible to send it to me?

Thank you again.

Kathy(Access to Teacher Training)”


Newham College, Laura KavanaghPsycho-social Access Tutor:

“Thank you so much for the opportunity for my students today they have been raving about it. One student in particular has come to college to tell me how great it was there and I am to email you her details regarding her offer as she had a discussion with you.

Her name is XXX: UCAS xxxxxxxx: Bsc Psychology with clinical psychology

Thanks once again for the support you are offering our students, I know they really appreciate it.”


Lorna Spence; Head of Access, Newham College:“The sessions were very informative for our students.

What was very helpful for the students was the practical aspect of the workshop- e,g., they were given a piece of research completed by another student and they had to evaluate why the grade was given.

The LSBU Programme was helpful for college tutors as the Lecturer who did the presentation gave a step by step guide in presenting tips about how to use databases.

The students who attended have undoubtedly taken something away that will most definitely help them with their research project”


City & Islington College, Nina Weiss,Access Team Leader:

“Thank you very much for organising the Extended Project Day this week. I think we all left feeling excited and inspired by the possibilities! It was also great to hear how much value LSBU places on the Access qualification.

We look forward to the next day in January.”


Richard Coyle, Humanities Access Tutor and Governor at Greenwich Community College:

“We value the links we have with South Bank really highly and cannot thank you enough for the efforts you go to to support us and our students. Clearly it has all resulted in a lot of applications to SB from our students, which I am delighted about. Please do let me know about any other planned events, we are keen to maintain and strengthen our relationship with South Bank.”

Tutors’ EvaluationsPip Murray, Management & Professional Studies Tutor, South Thames College:

“The LSBU Extended Project Support Programme proved invaluable for the STC cohort, as this provided them with a rare opportunity to experience first-hand a taster of what university life and study at a Higher Educational establishment would entail.

As a new, mandatory unit added onto the Access to Law, the Extended Project Unit did not provide any guidance as to content, format etc.

The invaluable feedback from LSBU lecturers, enabled STC to engage and devise the assignment accordingly.

It is rare that I have the opportunity to learn from other law lecturers and to peer observe the same, enabling me to tweak styles of teaching, lessons etc.

This programme was particularly useful, it is well focussed and structured with insightful input from student ambassadors. I know my students felt privileged to have benefitted from the experience”

How can we improve the Programme?

Morley College - Carole Preen Head of Access:

“It is important to focus on different subjects in the presentations. The law tutor obviously mostly had questions around law so perhaps they could be broadly generic.”

“Students could bring back drafts for student ambassadors to comment on. It was clear that speaking to current LSBU students was extremely helpful.”

How can we improve the Programme?

Lorna Spence, Head of Access, Newham College:

“I would not want you to change the programme but would be good to have a specialist for each of our groups - Psychology, Law, Business and Engineering.”

Students’ Evaluations How would you rate the Extended Project

Support Day?Completed Evaluations Excellent Good Fair Poor

Exc. + Good

Cohort 1,Session 1 36 56% 44% 0% 0% 100%Cohort 1,Session 2 27 52% 37% 11% 0% 89%Cohort 1,Session 3 26 69% 27% 4% 0% 96%

Cohort 2 & 3,Session 1 63 32% 51% 14% 3% 83%

Cohort 2 & 3,Session 2 30 50% 40% 10% 0% 90%

Cohort 2 & 3,Session 3 20 60% 40% 0% 0% 100%

What did Students find most helpful?

Cohort 1 Day 1

“It gave the students clear insight into what to expect in terms of preparation.”

“Structure of an essay and how to reference”“It was good for students to hear from students. This

can only be productive.”“She (Student Ambassador) was excellent. Her

achievements motivated me.”“Hearing from the 3rd years about uni life and

academic writing”

What did Students find most helpful?

Cohort 1 Day 2

“Research questions” “Learning how to narrow down your research” “Approachability of lecturers, lots of questions and

answers is great” “Library tour of questions”

What did students find most helpful?

Cohort 1 Day 3

“Good tips and really useful information” “Knowing how to structure your essay” “The advice and information – I’m becoming more

confident about essay writing.” “Getting into the depth of an essay. Love the

lectures”


Cohorts 2 & 3 Day 1

“Talk about essay writing with the student

ambassadors” “The advice and information was very relevant” “The planning for the research and the structure”


Cohorts 2 & 3 Day 2

“Lecture on research methods” “The whole event was pretty flawless, student

ambassadors are very helpful” “Using e-resources” “The tour of the library and presentation by Kim

appealed to me” “Questionnaire; student ambassador led session on

conducting research”


Cohorts 2 & 3 Day 3

“Learning about plagiarism” “The skills session on writing” “Caring for the attainment of access learners”

How would students change the Programme?

“Change the weather, but other than that, not a thing “

“I would have expanded the time to make the sessions longer because both were very useful”

“Have more days of lectures at South Bank University “

“Specific to a particular course “

“The time constraints “

“May be we could have one-to-ones “

Greater interest in LSBU? “I would like to do my law degree here”

“The English courses are the most interesting out of my chosen universities”

“It is the first university I have as my main for my chosen course”

“Students here get support all the way and I'm up for any challenge”

“I love the staff and what they presented to us plus the university”

“I have an insight to how the university works and expectations”

“Opportunities whilst studying”

“LSBU will continue to be at the beginning of my list of university choice for my future students”

Any negative student comments?“Disrupted by immature students”

“Noisy and disrupted, could have been helpful”

“Please throw out disruptive visitors”

How would you rate the Extended Project Support Day?

Completed Evaluations Excellent Good Fair Poor

Exc. + Good

Cohort 2 & 3,Session 1 63 32% 51% 14% 3% 83%

Lessons learned

Have more subject specialists delivering

Disruption – ensure colleges have explained rationale to students and ask them not to make attendance mandatory

Attendance – will always be issue for Access students on one year course.- Morley’s solution – tie LSBU programme in with their

own assessment

Were the Aims of the Programme Achieved?Help students undertake their Extended Projects YES

Guide FE staff as to how to deliver this double unit YES

Prepare Access to HE students for Higher Education YES

Increase applications and enrolments to LSBU from Access to HE students VERY LIKELY - BEING MONITORED

Ease students’ transition to Higher Education thereby increasing the likelihood of retention YES

Strengthen further our precious educational partnerships YES

Promote LSBU YES

Delivery of (Access)Extended Project Support at LSBU 2014-15: An Evaluation Louise Andronicou...

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