2. Moving on to HE: Skills for Transition and Lifelong Learning Jan Anderson (L&T Coordinator SSSL/University Teaching Fellow, TU) Julie Liddell (Head of Psychology, Stockton 6th Form College) Michael Duffey (Lecturer, Access to Higher Education, Stockton Riverside College) Contact Jan – j.anderson@tees.ac.uk

3. Overview • The transition between FE and HE can be a challenging time for some students. • This session will identify and discuss the types of skills students require to be successful at HE and how staff teaching in HE can assist in the development/enhancement of skills acquired during FE study. • The session will be interactive to enable participants to consider current practices used to prepare students for HE aimed at easing the transition and improving the learning experiences of students. • In addition a final year student will present on her recent research findings exploring student’s perceptions of the transition between FE and HE.

4. Higher Education study • Philosophy • To develop autonomous learners with: • Knowledge and understanding of the a given discipline • Cognitive and intellectual skills relevant to the discipline area • Practical and professional skills relevant to the discipline area • Transferrable skills = graduateness • = Graduateness – what others would expect of a graduate? • ? What would you expect of a graduate

5. What we expect of our students • To be: • Flexible • Open to new ideas • Prepared to develop skills to enable them to find and evaluate information • Prepared to self direct their studies and work to set deadlines • Prepared to read beyond the set readings provided in teaching sessions • To challenge the information they are given

6. Levels of study • Level descriptor handout • Level three (0) • Level four (1) • Level five (2) • Level six (3) • Gradual progression of expectations which maps between FH and HE study

7. Practicalities of work with HE students in FE environments • Topics for discussion e.g. FE and HE expectations • Student support • E.g. how often do tutors/tutees meet • What is discussed • How is this monitored • Is it enforced • Parental contact ?? Data protection • Managing the learning environment = working with adults

8. Additional areas for consideration • 6th form students are concerned about • Their own abilities to cope at university • Academically • Socially • Organisationally • They understand they need to be self driven but want support to achieve this

9. Additional areas for consideration • University students tell us • Some need to find out for themselves by experience rather than direction • Some understand the need for finding things out for themselves • Some are assessment focused • For some social aspects of university life can get in the way of studying