JISC

Based upon and informed by previously funded JISC projects, this project (institutionally known as Captcha) will develop support mechanisms for students from when they are offered a place at the University of Cumbria (UoC) to the end of their first full year of study. Using a range of already available technologies, including the institutional VLE and e-portfolio system, the project will use learner generated content to provide students with a rich and varied range of materials about starting life at UoC.

Overview

Offering appropriate support for students as they begin their first year in HE can be instrumental in retaining them. Student expectations of their course of study and life at university need to be realistic. Many of the students who attend UoC are part-time or work-based learners. Some are on placement in the community within their first year. In addition, UoC is a highly dispersed university, so maintaining face-to-face contact with tutors and key personnel is not always convenient or feasible. Captcha will aim to use learner generated content to support students who have accepted a place at UoC as they make the transition into HE.

Aims and objectives

The aim of this project will be to enhance retention and student achievement at UoC with a particular focus on first year undergraduates. Captcha will do this through a website that collates information about academic study and social life at UoC. It is envisaged that through engagement with tutors, and in some instances part of an assessment, students will generate content that is written with new students as the target audience.

Project methodology

Captcha will seek to involve all stakeholders (including students and consultants) who will be invited to give feedback about this project on an ongoing basis, so that the project team can be sensitive to the needs of first year students. The project will use Glenaffric’s Six Steps to Effective Evaluation as a basis for any evaluation. Evaluation will also look at withdrawal rates in specified areas following the project’s conclusion.

Anticipated outputs

• Literature review
• Learner generated content including:
• Podcasts, videos, written content (text based), photos and blogs.
• Resources and guides for other institutions
• Final report
• Workshop/dissemination event
• Testimonial
• Case study (ies)

Anticipated outcomes

Through dissemination of lessons learnt from the project, an increased awareness of how to support students in their first engagement with HE.