Addressing the barriers to student success is part of UWL’s strategic goal.
In February 2017, the Student Attainment Project 2 (SAP2), was awarded Catalyst Funding by the Higher Education Funding Council for England, now the Office for Students. Taking the positive feedback received from the students and academics into consideration, we have modified the SAP2 interventions to reflect UWL standards and map our curricula. These papers are now available to all students and staff as the ‘Guides for Success‘.
The guides for success contribute to an inclusive education and active learning. They are simple and easy to be deployed into class and online, and they help students to ‘review and reflect’ on their study skills. You are encouraged to use any of the guides which are relevant to your module(s).
The guides are available for students to access them via Guides for Success – Study Support at University of West London. *Please note that you will need to be logged into your Blackboard account in order to view this resource*
Contents
Fit to Submit: Coursework Checklist
This guide has been developed to help your students to work through their assessment to avoid common mistakes. You can direct your students to this guide and deliver it along with the ‘Understanding the Assessment’ as a formative activity. The guide is available on Blackboard in the Assessments tab. You can deliver this paper in assessment-related seminars or workshops, drop-in sessions or other relevant sessions. Personal Tutors can also direct their tutees to this guide.
This guide is included in the Assessment area of each Blackboard course as part of the standard Blackboard Module Template
Fit to Sit
This guide has been developed to help your students to be well-prepared for their exams. It provides top tips for exam preparation, during the exam and reflection for future exams. You can deliver this guide in any revision and exam seminars or workshops, or drop-in sessions. Personal Tutors are encouraged to direct their tutees to this guide and encourage them to reflect on their exam performance for future exams. Also, this guide is a great opportunity to enhance active student participation during revision sessions by asking students to share their ‘top tips’ for siting an exam in class or in a discussion forum activity on Blackboard.
This guide is included in the Assessment area of each Blackboard course as part of the standard Blackboard Module Template
Understanding the Assessment
This formative activity has been designed to help students receive sufficient advice and guidance, and encourage a self-directed and reflective learning by allowing them to reflect on their own learning, skills and abilities. You are encouraged to deliver this activity in any assessment-related seminars or workshops, and along with the Fit to Submit guide. An example on how such a simple guide can contribute to the inclusive learning environment and high degree of student participation and interaction can be found in How simple guides can contribute to an inclusive education and active learning.
Improving Academic Writing
This guide provides an overview of the main issues students should consider when writing an essay/report, and provides advice on how to approach the process. This guide will help your students to polish their academic writing and better understand the criteria used in marking in terms of academic writing. You can deliver this paper in any module related to academic writing and study skills, and during assessment-related and drop-in sessions. Personal Tutors can also make this guide available to their tutees.
Plagiarism: A Guide for Students
This guide has been developed to help students understand the importance of plagiarism. It provides a definition of plagiarism and explains to students the importance of compliance when producing work for submission. You can deliver this guide in any module related to academic writing and study skills, and during assessment-related and drop-in sessions. You are encouraged to deliver this guide along with the Fit to Submit, Understanding the Assessment and Improving Academic Writing guides. Personal Tutors can also make this paper available to their tutees.
Study Skills for Successful Students
This guide has been developed to help students develop their study skills. It shows an outline of key skills which are displayed by successful students and encourages them to reflect on their own strengths and areas they want to improve for PDP. It is a useful tool for your students to help them reflect on their own skills and set goals for their professional development. You can deliver this paper in any PDP module and sessions that aim to improve students’ personal and professional development. Personal Tutors are encouraged to use this guide along with the PRACTICE Model of coaching with their tutees.
Understanding your Students
The ‘Understanding you Students’ has been developed to help you understand the levels of academic anxieties and concerns your students may have, causing them to perform poorly, fail or withdraw. The guide encourages discussion around common anxieties, academic and personal concerns. It is an excellent tool to be delivered as an ice-breaker activity using PollEverywhere as a tool to collect the responses. Personal Tutors are encouraged to use this guide to get to know their tutees better in order to provide all useful information and support the student may needs.
Improving Students Confidence
This guide provides top tips to encourage your students build their confidence. You can deliver this guide in any module that you feel that is relevant or as an ice-breaker activity. It would be useful if you deliver this paper along with the Undertaking your Students or with the Study Skills for Successful Students guide. Personal Tutors can also make this guide available to their tutees.
The two films below – targeting level 3-4 and level 5 – encourage students to make the most of the career preparation support that is available to them at UWL, whilst also introducing the concept of Graduate Outcomes. Use these videos during your lectures when appropriate.
- For level 3 or level 4 students Make the most of your university experience
- For level 5 students Take control, develop your career plan
