New staff development workshops. 23rd March, 2nd July and 25th July
For further details and to book please see the CLT Website Professional Staff Development Series.
Induction and Transitions: Sharing Strategies
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Supporting Transition through our bespoke Introduction to HE Study Skills Sessions:
What happens?
Between first week and reading week the students engage with work which extends that which they started pre-course and during First Week. These sessions include input from Learning Services on accessing information and Assistive Technologies. The course team (Programme Leader & Course Leader) deliver these sessions covering active reading techniques, how to get the most out of your lectures, Harvard referencing, and the assessment protocols and practices on the programme.
What is the likely impact?
Students comment that these sessions really help give them a grounding in some of the key skills they need to develop and as these sessions run simultaneously with their first module they utilise the skills in between taught sessions to get a feel for what works best for them. The programme team is looking to build on this and develop a HE Study Skills module across both semesters in Year 1.
For more information please contact: Gillian Pye, pyeg@edgehill.ac.uk
Supporting Transition via our Getting Started Pages:
What happens?
Students have access to our Getting Started in HE booklet which introduces them to the likely ways of studying at university. They complete this before they arrive at First Week. During First Week we revisit some of the ideas and get them used to working together.
What is the likely impact?
Students feel more prepared for what they will be engaging with. They cite feeling able to mix well and make friends in the First Week through these activities. They cite feeling more settled from the start in the approach to their academic study.
For more information please contact: Gillian Pye, pyeg@edgehill.ac.uk
Graduate Employer Symposium
Who/What?
Employers from various Applied Health and Social Care field were invited to the Faculty of health to showcase their organisation and deliver a 20 to 30 minute presentation on their application process and the types of graduate skills and attributes they were looking for. Post graduate programme leads were also invited to talk about the application process for PGCE teaching, Masters in Social Work and MSc in Leadership and Management, MRES and PHD graduate teacher posts. AHSC Alumni were also invited to talk to students about job searching and applications. Current students on the Personal Career Development module were invited to attend.
So What?
Students found the session extremely valuable as it enabled them to network with graduate employers such as NSPCC, Frontline. Nutricia, Dannone and other Private and Voluntary organisation. Additionally they were able to meet the programme teams from Masters and PGCE programmes at Edge Hill. Talking first hand to graduates who had been through the application process proved extremely beneficial for CV development and interview techniques. Some students commented on how this had shaped their career plans and highlighted the skills required for this.
Working Lunch!
What happens?
At this time of year with placements looming and assessment deadlines on the horizon, not to mention 1st Teaching Posts to apply for, time is of the essence.
So to support students during this potentially difficult period of time, over in Design and Technology teaching spaces are booked over the lunch period, which provides not only a few hours per week of additional contact time, but helps to create and maintain a collegiate, industrious working atmosphere.
Staff stay around after the formal contact time and are on hand to offer additional support, which also at this frantic period in the students journey is very much appreciated by the students.
What are the benefits?
This approach has proven to contribute positively to the students attendance, engagement, attainment, and also has had a positive impact on the students general feelings of well-being.
Working lunches have proven to be so popular where possible students have also been coming in early for ‘breakfast club’!
For more information about the benefits of this initiative on students well-being, engagement and attainment please contact:
David Wooff, Wooffd@edgehill.ac.uk
Stepping Up: Supporting student nurses with their transition into the University
Learning Services are currently working in collaboration with colleagues in the Faculty of Health and Social Care on a pre-entry module ‘Stepping Up to Edge Hill University’ for the March 2018 intake of student nurses.
The aim of the pre-entry module, delivered via the Blackboard Open Education platform, is to support students with their transition into their academic programme at the University. The learning modules are designed to be interactive and engaging with embedded videos and quizzes.
Objectives of the module include:
- Meeting the academic teams
- Expectations of the department/the course
- Introduction to the terminology and language of the University
- What to expect during the first few weeks
- Help and support available from Learning Services and other support departments
- Discussion opportunities with other students on the same course
The module is due to go live in February 2018.
For more information about the pre-entry module contact Helen Jamieson via email at helen.jamieson@edgehill.ac.uk
Supporting Transitions: Festive Friday!
Festive Friday
What happened?
Staff host a festive gathering for all of the 1st Year BA Hons Dance Students, providing an opportunity to evaluate and reflect on the students first semester and the journey they have been on since leaving FE.
What is the likely impact?
Feedback indicates that this activity brings the cohort together, helps to build confidence and team work, supports cohort identity and increases motivation with students eager to come back for semester 2.
For more information please contact:
Debbie Deborah Norris, Lecturer in Dance
Norrisdb@edgehill.ac.uk
Overseas student exchanges
The incorporation of global dimensions within the programme through the successful development and promotion of overseas student exchanges
What happened?
Edge Hill’s Paramedic Department and Saimaa University, Finland share best practice, specifically around clinical simulation and practical assessments. Students exchange between the departments twice a year, sharing knowledge and experience of professional clinical practice. This venture was set up very quickly and has had a direct impact on students and the local community. Future work between the institutions will involve international peer critique of working practice and evidence-based care and online live stream critique of clinical simulations.
Edge Hill’s Paramedic team has also developed a link with the University of Johannesburg and will be sending students to South Africa for the first time in 2017 to partake in a multi-agency exercise. The department has thus demonstrated the ease of setting up international partnerships. Following the collaboration with Edge Hill, some students from Saimaa University have since gained employment with the North West Ambulance Service resulting in a directly positive impact on the local community. Students have benefitted through integration of new high tech simulation facilities at St James’ in Manchester that were purchased from Finland. Simulation set up, feedback and overall management have been replicated from best working practice in Finland, further preparing students for clinical practice.
A new 3D immersive simulation suite is being installed at St James’ following a review of its impact on student learning in Finland.
An overnight scenario and team building exercise has been incorporated into the first year of the programme following work with the University of Johannesburg. Further to this, a student exchange is being developed enabling Edge Hill students the opportunity to partake in a multi-disciplinary exercise in South Africa commencing September 2017.
An increased knowledge base, and dissemination of international paramedic evidence-based practice has been embedded within the curriculum.
For more information please contact Andrew Kirk,
Kirka@edgehill.ac.uk
[SOURCE: BSc (Hons) Paramedic Practice].
Developing undergraduate research skills
The focus on, and development of, students’ research skills at undergraduate Level 4 and beyond
What happens?
Students find the skills requisite for a successful dissertation difficult to develop from a standing start at L6. The aim is to introduce the relevant skills at L4 and develop them further at L5 such that they are highly developed by the time students reach L6. This ‘whole degree’ approach to dissertation success is innovative and one that could be utilised by all degree programmes.
What is the impact?
Students are almost immediately exposed to the demands of project work on starting their degree. This is delivered as part of the Cyprus field course and also requires working under pressure to tight deadlines. A similar approach is taken at L5 but with smaller group sizes and projects of longer duration. The successful addressing of these challenges engenders self-confidence alongside developing relevant skills of planning, time management, practical skills, analysis and communication of results, ultimately leading to higher dissertation scores and hence degree grades.
For more information please contact: Professor Paul Ashton
ashtonp@edgehill.ac.uk
[SOURCE: BSc (Hons) Food Science & BSc (Hons) Plant Science – Stage 2].
Enrichment opportunities
The student-led Midwifery Society which is supported by the Department to enrich the student learning experience
What happens?
The Midwifery Society creates a recognised forum to develop an EHU community for student midwives. A Society with elected committee members promotes communication among peers and enhances a collegiate approach to sharing knowledge. In addition, a recognised forum raises the profile of the University through a series of study events and conferences at reduced/ minimal costs.
Attendance at study events/ conferences organised by the Midwifery Society has encouraged members of the Society to participate in evidence-based learning and networking opportunities. This year, the Society has organised two study events attracting national speakers at significantly reduced costs for members. Additionally, the Society has facilitated the second annual ‘mentor in practice awards’. This positive event strengthens the department’s relationship with practice placement providers.
This year, the President of the Society was a finalist for the national Student Midwife of the Year 2017 award from the Royal College of Midwives.
For further information please contact the President of the Midwifery Society by visiting:
https://www.edgehillsu.org.uk/groups/midwifery-society–5
https://en-gb.facebook.com/EHUMidwiferySociety/
https://twitter.com/EHUMidwifery
[SOURCE: MSc Midwifery].