improving transition into university life through real and virtual (facebok) groups
DESCRIPTION
In this talk we will present an overview of the initiatives undertaken within the Student Learning Service in order to ease transition into the numerate disciplines at the University of Glasgow. We will discuss how we make use of social networking tools in order to communicate with students and support virtual PAL type activities. In particular, we will show how we are using Facebook groups as a mechanism for students to support each other both academically and socially and explain how we have introduced pre-entry support and offered advice for new entrants in the College of Science & Engineering using these groups. We will also briefly discuss plans to run maths support labs during summer school for local students during the next academic session and show how we have successfully introduced semi-formal events such as Maths-related film afternoons and craft activities.TRANSCRIPT
Improving transition into university life through real and virtual groupsShazia Ahmed
Sarah Honeychurch
Lorna Love
1 May 2014
Issues
Diversity of students
Range of backgrounds
3 subjects – lack of community
Commuting students ~40%
Using existing model
Successful Facebook groups for Maths and Comp Sci
Extend model to pre-entry support for all Schools in College of Science & Engineering
Facebook Groups
Over half of 2013-14 cohort joined main group before arriving
Links to subject-specific groups
Advantages
Conversations with each other
Conversations with more experienced members
Questions relating to:• Course• Glasgow generally
Advantages
Conversations with staff• Reassurance• Pre-entry resources (Maths)
Film afternoon
Knitting Group
A big success
Thank you
Shazia Ahmed
https://twitter.com/ShaziaAhmed
Sarah Honeychurch
https://twitter.com/nomadwarmachine
Social Media and Learning Communities
https://www.facebook.com/groups/12544718765832/