Refreshing in-sessional Refreshing in-sessional course provisioncourse provision

Centre for Language StudyCentre for Language StudySouthampton UniversitySouthampton UniversityK.Richardson & J.WatsonK.Richardson & J.Watson

kmr2@soton.ac.ukkmr2@soton.ac.uk jw17@soton.ac.ukjw17@soton.ac.uk

OverviewOverview

• In-sessional support pre-2004In-sessional support pre-2004

• Refreshing the provisionRefreshing the provision

• Example of online provisionExample of online provision

• Preliminary findingsPreliminary findings

• ConclusionsConclusions

• The way forwardThe way forward

In-sessionalIn-sessional support pre- support pre-20042004• Courses available per semesterCourses available per semester

15 face-to-face courses of 1 hour each 15 face-to-face courses of 1 hour each 1 face-to face workshop of 2 hours1 face-to face workshop of 2 hours Individual tutorial help (6 hours per week)Individual tutorial help (6 hours per week)Self-access language studySelf-access language study

• ContentContentNon-specific EGAP to non-specific groups of Non-specific EGAP to non-specific groups of

studentsstudents

In-sessional support pre-In-sessional support pre-20042004• IssuesIssues

Erratic attendanceErratic attendance Varying satisfaction levels among studentsVarying satisfaction levels among students

(lack of specificity in course content; mixed (lack of specificity in course content; mixed

discipline groups; single session classes; discipline groups; single session classes; course duration) course duration)

Tutor frustrationTutor frustration Timetable clashesTimetable clashes

Refreshing the provisionRefreshing the provision

• Face-to-face changes:Face-to-face changes: non-specific EGAP to discipline specific groups of studentsnon-specific EGAP to discipline specific groups of students task specific EGAP to task/context specific groups of task specific EGAP to task/context specific groups of

students students ESAP to discipline specific groups of studentsESAP to discipline specific groups of students

• Shorten certain courses 6 weeks of double sessions Shorten certain courses 6 weeks of double sessions

• Introduction of online provision:Introduction of online provision: tutored online non-specific EGAP to non-discipline specific tutored online non-specific EGAP to non-discipline specific

groups of students groups of students non-tutored ‘International Students Online Resources’ (ISOR)non-tutored ‘International Students Online Resources’ (ISOR)

Refreshing the provision Refreshing the provision MonitoringMonitoring

Face-to-faceFace-to-face:: level of attendance level of attendance student feedbackstudent feedback

Online provisionOnline provision:: enrolments, participation, VLE tracking, enrolments, participation, VLE tracking,

student feedback student feedback

Refreshing the provision Refreshing the provision OnlineOnline

• 04-05 S1: 04-05 S1: Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Skills Skills

• 04-05 S2: 04-05 S2: Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Skills; Academic Communication Skills Skills; Academic Communication Skills

• 05-06 S1: 05-06 S1: Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Academic Writing Skills; Academic Listening Skills; Academic Communication Skills; Skills; Academic Communication Skills; Academic Reading Skills; Academic Academic Reading Skills; Academic Vocabulary Development; Aspects of Vocabulary Development; Aspects of Grammar for Academic Study Grammar for Academic Study

• 05-06: 05-06: International Students’ Online ResourcesInternational Students’ Online Resources

Online coursesOnline coursesPreliminary findingsPreliminary findings

• 04-05 S1: 04-05 S1: 93 students, 1846 hits, 93 students, 1846 hits, 30%-40% still active at the end of the 30%-40% still active at the end of the

coursecourse

• 04-05 S2: 67 students, no data available 04-05 S2: 67 students, no data available (Blackboard)(Blackboard)

• 05-06 S1: 05-06 S1: 198 students, 7576 hits after 4 weeks198 students, 7576 hits after 4 weeks

• 05-06 non-tutored option: 05-06 non-tutored option: 124 students self-enrolled, 124 students self-enrolled, 1247 hits after 4 weeks1247 hits after 4 weeks

Online coursesOnline coursesStudent feedbackStudent feedback

On the 2004-2005 online coursesOn the 2004-2005 online courses: : • … … external websites and the comments after each question are particularly useful.  By reading external websites and the comments after each question are particularly useful.  By reading

them, it helps a lot with my writing. (AWS)them, it helps a lot with my writing. (AWS)• very useful learning material, clear instructions  (ALS)very useful learning material, clear instructions  (ALS)• The quality of the course content is high… the activities cover many important areas of The quality of the course content is high… the activities cover many important areas of

communication (ACS)communication (ACS)

On discussion boardsOn discussion boards::• Since this online course is very self-learning, therefore, I may not have the time to discuss.  Since this online course is very self-learning, therefore, I may not have the time to discuss. 

However, I think the tutor did a good job and offer help when necessary.However, I think the tutor did a good job and offer help when necessary.• The topic of the discussions and activities was quite good and useful for student. The topic of the discussions and activities was quite good and useful for student. • I did not benefit much as other course participants did not actively participate in the discussion I did not benefit much as other course participants did not actively participate in the discussion

forum.forum.• I'm not confident about my English, that's why I'm not active in course discussion.I'm not confident about my English, that's why I'm not active in course discussion.• The better way of discussing is face-to-face The better way of discussing is face-to-face • ... people did not visit the discussion board regularly, maybe because of time-constraints... people did not visit the discussion board regularly, maybe because of time-constraints..

On self motivation & time constraints etcOn self motivation & time constraints etc• The problem for me was especially the last unit I was very busy and as a result, I could not The problem for me was especially the last unit I was very busy and as a result, I could not

concentrate on them. Anyway, I read through all of them.concentrate on them. Anyway, I read through all of them.• It is not because of the content etc. but solely because I just lost and do not follow the activity.It is not because of the content etc. but solely because I just lost and do not follow the activity.• Hope we could have longer course duration.Hope we could have longer course duration.

Face-to-face coursesFace-to-face coursesPreliminary findingsPreliminary findings

Discipline specific students Task/Context specific students

Non-discipline/task specific students

ESAP MSc Social Statistics 96%MBA 94%Foundation Year Engineers 94%MSc Operational Research 91%LLM 90%

Task specificEGAP

Write your PhD 95%Master’s Dissertation 82%

Non-task specific EGAP

Water Engineers 99%MSc Management 87%

Socrates 85% Academic Writing 73%Grammar 57%Oral Skills 51%

ConclusionsConclusions

• The more specific the student group, the better the The more specific the student group, the better the attendanceattendance

• The more specific the content, the better the The more specific the content, the better the attendanceattendance

• Shorter ‘workshop’ courses do not have as much Shorter ‘workshop’ courses do not have as much impact on attendance as expectedimpact on attendance as expected

• Online courses provide a flexible way to deliverOnline courses provide a flexible way to deliver• Online is an attractive option for some studentsOnline is an attractive option for some students

• Untutored online resources might suit some studentsUntutored online resources might suit some students

The way forwardThe way forward

• Further researchFurther research• Improve format and delivery of current Improve format and delivery of current

online courses and ISORonline courses and ISOR

• More ESAP to discipline specific students?More ESAP to discipline specific students?• Introduce online ESAP to discipline specific Introduce online ESAP to discipline specific

students?students?• Integrate online courses with face-to-face Integrate online courses with face-to-face

courses: blended learning?courses: blended learning?

Refreshing in-sessional Refreshing in-sessional course provisioncourse provision

Centre for Language StudyCentre for Language StudySouthampton UniversitySouthampton UniversityK.Richardson & J.WatsonK.Richardson & J.Watson

kmr2@soton.ac.ukkmr2@soton.ac.uk jw17@soton.ac.ukjw17@soton.ac.uk