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UniStep: a sustainable approach to developing academic literacy. Handa, Power & Carmichael

UniStep: a sustainable approach to developing academic literacy. Handa, Power & Carmichael. University of Western Sydney (UWS) context: 52% of students first in family to attend university Large, multi-campus university

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UniStep: a sustainable approach to developing academic literacy. Handa, Power & Carmichael

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  1. UniStep: a sustainable approach to developing academic literacy.Handa, Power & Carmichael University of Western Sydney (UWS) context: 52% of students first in family to attend university • Large, multi-campus university • 10.5% of the population in Western Sydney have degrees compared with 20.8% of the rest of Sydney • 22% of students work more than 20 hours a week

  2. First Year Experience: global context Complex: a range of feelings, challenges & experiences Adaptation to new surroundings, new people, different requirements & responsibilities, assessment expectations, independent learning Australian context: widening participation agenda - under represented: low SES, regional & remote, indigenous students - currently students from high SES backgrounds are 3 times more likely to attend university

  3. Academic Literacy & skills Academic Literacy • Academic reading & writing • Language • Critical thinking • Academic discourse Academic Skills • Note-taking • Referencing • Critical analysis • Group discussion, oral presentation • Online learning • Time management

  4. Transition program & strategies Student Learning Unit’s suite of Transition Programs • Unistep – both Academic Literacy & Mathematics • Academic preparation – 2 day, p/t, international, postgraduate • Semester workshops –Academic literacy & maths • Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) • UWS FYE Program

  5. Program Outline • Lecture • Tutorial discussions • Oral presentations • Time management • Group work • In-class activities • Social networking • Online learning environment • Reading and research strategies • Effective note taking • Independent study • Submission of annotated bibliography and essay

  6. Distinctive features of the program • Offers an authentic university experience • Comprehensive package of resources • Sustainability as the content topic - interdisciplinary - promotes critical thinking - encourages responsible global citizens

  7. UniStep Academic Literacy Program • Up to 300 enrolled students attend per year before commencement of first semester, 8 to 9 classes • 40 hour program – 8 days (F/T); 7 evenings + Saturday (P/T) • Comprehensive 360 page workbook • Theme of Sustainability (Reader) • IT component (Blackboard site & computer lab session)

  8. Sustainability and critical thinking • Contested, global and local • Used as topic for lecture, readings, oral presentations & in-class activities • “Sustainability was a great topic as it is part of everyone’s life and it brought the seriousness of the matter to my attention.  It was relevant to all courses.” • “I’ve never thought before about the effects of our lives on people in the future.I felt the articles in the reader were interesting and accessible” • “researching this area was great. I especially liked the mind map activities that we did in class about sustainability” • “I liked the group work … hearing their ideas and opinions”.

  9. How is UniStep organised? • Student Learning Unit – coordinator, lecturers, casual teachers • Regular update of resources and essay questions • Staff in-service • Admin support • Promotion • Targeted email • Information day • Online • Flyers

  10. Assessment of program • Exit surveys every year: Student Feedback on Unit • Longitudinal evaluation studies - telephone interviews • Emails from students • Feedback from staff • Benchmarking project across Australia 2007 • Australian Learning and Teaching Council award 2009

  11. Evidence of success of program Exit surveys: 2008 - 92% agreed UniStep a satisfactory experience; 97% agreed learning activities helped; 85% found resources useful; 86% agreed the program developed their critical thinking, problem solving & communication skills. Longitudinal studies: • 2005 – of 115 students interviewed by phone only one had discontinued. • 82% reported increased confidence in approaching written assignments. • 2008 - 64 Nursing students attending only 6% had discontinued.

  12. Transferability to other universities • Sustainability is a topic of relevance both globally and locally - highly suited to debate and critical thinking • 2007 benchmarking project revealed support for the distinctiveness of this program • Academic literacy needs to be developed by commencing students - in any language • Academic skills development (eg. taking notes, time management) is helpful for all students

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