Transcript How are athletes motivated? - University of Western Sydney

UWS Quality Forum
Shaping our future through
quality: the first year law
experience
3 November 2008
Enhancing FY law experience
Promote SOCIAL integration
+
 Ensure positive ACADEMIC experience
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 Successful FY transition
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Why?
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Long commitment to structured and
supportive FY experience for diverse and
disadvantaged cohort
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School of Law context
– Curriculum review 2007: FY coordinator
– FY retention
– Moral imperative
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FYE literature – whole experience, social
SOCIAL: Orientation day
Concise
 Overview first few weeks
 Meet first year teaching staff – campus
tours
 Meet other students – small groups,
lunch
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Orientation camp
Social activities
FY advisor interviews - groups
FY Law vuws site
First year coordinator
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Orientation
Assessment sequencing
FY interviews
Communicate emails
FY vUWS site
Assist @ risk students
FY inquiries
Organise social
Follow up @ risk
Overview all FY units
ACADEMIC: Introduction to Law
Foundation conceptual, legal method &
writing unit / workshop
 Smaller interactive classes - good
teachers
 Online textbook, vUWS communication
 Authentic assessment task promote
group work, law research & writing skill
 Clear assessment guidance using
criteria & standards
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How?
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Committed personnel
– First year coordinator, First Year Advisors,
staff at Orientation & Camp, Teachers
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School endorsement
– HOS, financial
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Institutional support
– LTAP grant
– vUWS
Difference?
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FYA interviews identified early student
concerns
– most well settled and confident by week 4
– juggling their commitments and managing
their workload: most working 10-20 hrs
– Early alert: assisted & referred those in
difficulty
– Staff re-energised & commitment renewed
Best aspect of the camp
 ‘Learning
from peers about their
concerns, knowing I’m not alone’
 ‘Inspiring UWS law graduates giving
me confidence as a UWS student.’
 ‘The sense of belonging that you felt’
 ‘Learning how to survive doing law in
uni’
Would you recommend the
camp?
Introduction to Law – F & AF
Fail and Absent Fail - Introduction to Law
30
25
%
20
F
15
AF
10
5
0
2005.1
2005.2
2006.1
2006.2
year
2007.1
2007.2
2008.1
Introduction to Law results
Grade Distribution Introduction to Law
%
120
100
AF
80
F
P
60
C
40
D
20
H
0
2005.1
2005.2
2006.1
2006.2
Year
2007.1
2007.2
2008.2
Introduction to Law: feedback
I was able to learn from feedback in this unit
40
35
30
SA
%
25
A
20
N
D
15
SD
10
5
0
1
Agreement
Differently?
FYC dedicated position – holistic
 Extend strategies to all 1st yr law units
 Exploit Gen Y media: email, facebook,
u-tube, vUWS
 Provide more follow up
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– Phone call / email / letter
– After first assessment – esp failures
Personalise feedback
 Manage expectations – assistance, unit,
assessment
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How can UWS support FY?
Appoint first year coordinators – ½ load
 Provide structures & support to promote
social + academic integration
 Encourage personalised approach
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– staff & student relationships
– feedback
Develop systems and strategies to
follow up @ risk students
 Listen to students
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Suveer Verma, FY law student