Get Ahead Programme: As the dust settles, lets reflect ...

Learning Services ran the Get Ahead programme for new students coming to UCS during August and September.

The Get Ahead series aims to help students in the transition into Higher Education. Successful studying at university is about developing a higher level of study, thinking and writing skills. You will naturally develop these skills as you progress through your course, but it's a great idea to get ahead. The "Get ahead: preparing to study at UCS" course helps you do just that.

In total, 94 students attended across the 6 events. With the registered numbers ranging from 8 in the Arts and Humanities session to 40 in Social Science and ECS.

What did those attending the sessions think?

"It helped me massively with what is expected of me for my uni assignments and also boosted my confidence"

 "Having been away from education for an extended period of time, the idea of enrolling at UCS was very daunting. The Get Ahead course has empowered me to joining on the 29th with confidence. We are inundated with information to assist our learning whilst gaining knowledge of the setting and the opportunity to meet both fellow students and the staff"

After each course we have made the resources available after the session, and included the flip chart activity around how to effectiveness for them. These are available from: http://ucslssessions.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/getahead_sep14 

How did those attending think we might improve it for the next time?

The feedback can be divided into four sections:

1. Expectation Management: "by providing sufficient information in advance about the content of the course, particularly the academic level at which it is aimed and the level of detail / information which will be discussed and therefore how this will be of use"
2. Ensure it is relevant: "use specific questions regarding your course ... I felt at times the staff trying to do examples for criminology and for early childhood studies students this was quite different"
3. Socialisation: "if practical ... group individuals attending the same course to encourage early interaction with their peers"
4. Post session support: "Have demos online of how to find or do certain things within the online library, like searching for a journal"

What did the session facilitators think, how might we improve the course for next time?

The feedback can be divided into:

1. Administration: Lots of opportunities to make the process easier for people to register on the day and access the buildings.
2. Programme design: Lots of thoughts around one or two day course, length of sessions and connecting sessions together.

So, overall I'd suggest the Get Ahead was a success, glad lots of students appreciated, and a big thanks to all the Learning Services Staff who made it happen.