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Induction Experiences

First impressions matter significantly in an induction setting. This presentation explores the importance of crafting a high-impact induction session for students at Napier University. By focusing on the first week, the session highlights the need for engaging activities, personal tutor groups, and effective icebreakers to foster connections among students. Attendees will learn strategies to create memorable experiences that promote interaction and support, helping students adjust to university life and encouraging lasting friendships through structured group dynamics.

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Induction Experiences

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  1. Induction Experiences Designing a high impact induction session

  2. First Impressions Count • That first session, that first week, that first semester have a disproportionate impact impact Time at Napier Day 2 Semester 2 Week 2 Year 2

  3. First Impressions Count • That first session, that first week, that first semester have a disproportionate impact impact By “impact” I mean “the degree to which it is important that I get it right”. If you get the first session right you can afford to get a lot of other stuff wrong. Time at Napier Day 2 Semester 2 Week 2 Year 2

  4. Traditional Induction • Where are the fire exits • How many credits you should accumulate every year • What is the structure of the course • What are the penalties for plagiarism • What happens when you fail a module

  5. They did that to me… • When I first got a job at the University I was very excited • The first communication was a staff handbook • What constitutes serious professional misconduct (as opposed to minor professional misconduct) • The redundancy procedure • The disciplinary procedure

  6. Topics in this talk • First impressions • Why it is worth putting effort into session one • AVM • The group activity sessions we have evolved • Building tutor groups • Why do it • How to do it • And how not to do it

  7. The perfect induction

  8. Day One, Session One • Many of the students have already moved in to halls and been on Students’ Union Events • Many are away from home for the first time • All of them are keen and excited • I am competing for their attention • I want to carve out space • That first week, from a student’s point of view, seemingly lasts months

  9. Ice breakers & short activities • Computing Students are notoriously unsociable • In software development an individual can often out perform a group • We need to find activities where the group outperforms the individual: • For example: 300 milliseconds http://sqlzoo.net/300.htm

  10. Animal Vegetable Mineral • Every student gets a sticky label • In the room there will be 5 Ants, 5 Badgers, 5 Cats etc. • The groups must find each other and introduce themselves • We can help the groups find each other

  11. Short Activities Activity Requirements • Activities must be quick • They must require more than one person • They must be easy to assess instantly and publicly Activities Used • Big bubble contest • Give out bubble mixture and wire. Take a picture of your biggest bubble • Bean counting • I give out bags of exactly 150 grams of beans. You give me back exactly 100 grams • Egg catching • Give out sticky tape and newspaper. I drop an egg on it.

  12. Personal Tutor Groups • At the end of AVM the students must form themselves into tutor groups of 5 or 6 • Each group is assigned a tutor • The groups leave together to find their tutor and get their timetables • Tutors meet their groups for an hour per week during semester 1 • Activities are based on problems supplied by common modules

  13. Why tutor groups work • The tutor groups are the core of the peer support structures • For each student “Somebody knows your name.” • Tutors are the first point of contact when the programme leader wants to know something about a student • Even when a tutor group fails other groups often adopt

  14. How to get buy in • Once it is working, having a tutor group is actually quite popular among the staff • Recruiting tutors was difficult in the first few years • Get the head of school to take a group • Get the research professors to take a group • Get the dean to take a group

  15. How to make tutor groups work • The tutor must be there on day one • The activities must be available but need not be obligatory • I cannot predict who will be a successful tutor • Record attendance • Tiny details matter • A stand in will not do • A missed session is a lost group • Use bcc to nag missing students • Buy them a coffee • Leave them alone • The tutor is on the students’ side

  16. Summary • Induction – it is a big deal. • Make it an event. • Make it memorable. • Personal tutor groups work, they form lasting friendships that survive for years. • Staff like being tutors.

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