Our Work

Enabling Achievement within a Diverse Student Body

Description

This CETL aimed to improve retention, progression and achievement within a diverse student body.

Contact: Helen Gale, Assistant Director, Learning and Teaching

Email: h.gale@wlv.ac.uk

Telephone: 01902 322361

The CETL provided the university with the means to establish learning hubs, on four campuses, in which the foremost practices in academic learning, advice and support for students were provided. The work focused on four subject areas - design for interior textiles, environmental sciences, politics and philosophy and education studies, with wider dissemination activity across both the university and the Higher Education sector.

This interdisciplinary CETL aimed to improve retention, progression and achievement within a diverse student body. The focus was on identification and support for individuals at level 1 with four identified subject areas. Excellent student outcomes were achieved through the use of diagnostics and tracking to identify and support learner needs, the development of specific learning skills and embedding this work within the subject curriculum, blended together by a mature virtual learning environment.

Current Projects:

Each of the four subject areas has a diverse student profile and each has achieved high levels of retention and subsequent progression for their students by evolving specific strategies for student support:-

Design for Interior Textiles produced a generic diagnostic tool, the Individual Learning Profile, to identify individual learner needs on entry to the course. Students were assessed as high, medium or low risk and provided with tailored academic and learning skills support.

Environmental Sciences created an electronic student tracking system for identifying at risk students. For those at risk, the virtual learning environment was used to provide interactive tutorials and study skills support. Face-to-face contact and peer support was available via a drop-in centre.

Politics and Philosophy identified the need for specific learner and learning support to improve student abilities to write effectively. This was achieved through the module, ‘Writing for Academic Success’ that refines learning and writing skills.

Education Studies has pioneered the embedding of learner support in the subject curriculum by creating a bank of materials within the virtual learning environment entitled ‘Learning for Success’. Staff used these interactive materials to deliver learning support integrated with their subject curriculum. Students were encouraged to reflect on their own learning and to develop personal strategies to improve their ability to learn.

Organisations / Institutions

University of Wolverhampton

Start date

End date