Conference proceeding
Orientation for credit, transition for success
34th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (AAEE2023): Adapting to the Changing Expectations of Students and Industry, pp.621-629
Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (AAEE2023), 34th (Gold Coast, Queensland, 03/12/2023–06/12/2023)
01/12/2023
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Abstract
CONTEXT: University orientation is typically a short term, first-year-focussed activity with minimal academic
involvement. “O-Week” is held across the university, with many social and academic activities
taking place. A few sessions might focus on the area of study that students have chosen. With
modern pedagogies in mind, these sessions cover too much content to be remembered and
students have limited opportunities for genuine engagement with peers and facilitators. Having
orientation not optimised for building the skills and connections needed to succeed in the first
year, with potential impacts on progression and retention rates, is a missed opportunity.
GOAL: An opportunity to revisit the aims and student experience of orientation has arisen as we update
our engineering program. The new program design has an increased emphasis on the student
journey, bringing a renewed focus on the transition into, and through, the university. The goal of
this work is to successfully transition students into studying engineering at UniSQ and ensure
they have the skills, direction and connections they need to succeed in their program.
APPROACH: The project is based on the use of the transition pedagogies of Kift, Nelson & Clarke (2010) and
Lizzio’s 5 Senses Model (2006). A key component of the orientation will be students identifying
their own areas of strengths that they can leverage as they set personal and professional
development goals that they will pursue over the whole of first year in order to attain the defined
first year capabilities that will assist them in their studies. Students will be linked with mentors and
peer groups and support services as needed. As the student profile of UniSQ is diverse, this
intentionally designed approach will help to ensure all student cohorts are included.
OUTCOMES: Our new approach aims to implement orientation for credit courses which will facilitate the
building of essential study, personal and professional skills, starting with a residential school to
meet staff and students. Personal goal setting and mentoring by staff and senior students will
continue through the first year of enrolment and beyond. Students will have enhanced
opportunities to develop a sense of belonging and access integrated support as they transition
into university. Students will have a 0.5 credit point “pass” in their pocket at completion, and more
importantly, should be well placed to continue their personal journey through their studies.
CONCLUSIONS: This work proposes a framework and course structure to support the transition of students into
our renewed engineering programs. These are evaluated against existing transition frameworks.
Details
- Title
- Orientation for credit, transition for success
- Creators
- Catherine Hills - University of Southern QueenslandChris McAlister - University of Southern QueenslandAlexander Kist - University of Southern QueenslandJustine Baillie - University of Southern QueenslandZachary Quince - University of Southern QueenslandHannah Seligmann - University of Southern Queensland
- Publication Details
- 34th Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (AAEE2023): Adapting to the Changing Expectations of Students and Industry, pp.621-629
- Conference
- Australasian Association for Engineering Education Conference (AAEE2023), 34th (Gold Coast, Queensland, 03/12/2023–06/12/2023)
- Publisher
- Engineers Australia
- Identifiers
- 9781925627916; 991013268610802368
- Copyright
- © Engineers Australia 2023
- Academic Unit
- Centre for Teaching and Learning
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding