{"id":13379,"date":"2021-02-12T21:28:31","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T10:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/?p=13379"},"modified":"2021-07-17T21:25:35","modified_gmt":"2021-07-17T11:25:35","slug":"students-perspective-on-supporting-them-in-their-transition-to-university","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/educational-innovation.sydney.edu.au\/teaching@sydney\/students-perspective-on-supporting-them-in-their-transition-to-university\/","title":{"rendered":"Students’ perspective on supporting them in their transition to university"},"content":{"rendered":"

The recently launched\u00a0<\/span>Get Prepared<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u00a0Canvas site\u00a0emerged from a collaboration between a group of <\/span>student co-designers<\/span><\/a>\u00a0from a number of faculties across the University and Educational Innovation. They reflect a diverse and overlapping range of underrepresented student cohorts at the university, including first-in-family, low-socioeconomic, Indigenous, and regional students. In this article, three students from the <\/span>Get Prepared <\/span><\/i>team discuss coming to university, the challenges students can face on this journey, and the contribution <\/span>Get Prepared<\/span><\/i> makes in this space.<\/span><\/p>\n

This article was contributed by student members of the Get Prepared team (Michelle Cheung, Florence Borbe, Mahmoud Al-Rifai).<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

The challenges of coming to university – Florence Borbe (4th year Education\/Arts)<\/h2>\n

University can be a daunting place, like being a little fish in a big pond. Whether you come straight out of high school or from vocational education, you\u2019ll face challenges, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Learning new university \u2018lingo\u2019<\/h3>\n

There are a myriad of new terms used at university (that we actually have a <\/span>glossary<\/span><\/a> section of the University website spe<\/span>aks for itself!). Students may wonder what (and when) a \u2018census date\u2019 is, what a \u2018WAM\u2019 and \u2018SAM\u2019 represents on their transcript, and why they may have to take an \u2018OLE\u2019 or two. Clarifying important terms relevant to your\u00a0<\/span>unit of study and referring students to the glossary will help them to demystify university terms and procedures.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Navigating a campus the size of a suburb<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve been at this university for 5 years and I <\/b>still <\/i><\/b>get lost!<\/b>\u00a0I\u2019m sure you do too. Suggesting apps such as <\/span>Lost On Campus <\/span><\/i>and emailing directions to hard-to-find rooms before your first class will ensure students don\u2019t arrive late or attend the wrong class!<\/span><\/p>\n

Meeting new academic expectations<\/h3>\n

Every student wants to perform well. By taking the time to outline the essentials of your unit (e.g. a specific referencing style) and providing exemplar assessments of varying grades, you give your students the chance to understand what you expect of them. Emphasising the importance of time-management and staying organised is also key to academic success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Balancing the competing demands of life, work and study<\/h3>\n

Most students work casual and part-time jobs, whilst some have the added responsibility of caring for a relative. <\/span>Being empathetic and flexible in responding to their needs<\/b>, such as providing a 1 or 2 day simple extension<\/a> can go a long way in helping them manage their commitments and mental wellbeing.<\/span><\/p>\n

I felt incompetent, a burden on others…\u00a0especially as a commencing student of an esteemed institution such as the University of Sydney.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In particular, students who are first-in-family face these challenges without a direct family source to explain things like how to enrol, making the transition to university an overwhelming experience. Personally, as the first in my family to attend university in Australia, filling out HECS forms, selecting units in Sydney Student, and navigating the learning management system (then Blackboard, now Canvas) during the initial stages of my enrolment were persistent challenges. I would have been lost without the help of friends, Australian-university-educated cousins, and the busy ICT support hotline.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I felt incompetent, a burden on others, as I assumed I was expected to navigate the enrolment process with ease, especially as a commencing student of an esteemed institution such as the University of Sydney.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is usually considered common knowledge amongst university staff and students can be completely foreign to some students, leaving them feeling confused, overwhelmed and isolated. These students may be apprehensive about seeking assistance from their tutors, lecturers, and peers due to fear of judgement. You can be their <\/strong><\/span>guiding light<\/b> by providing opportunities for students to ask questions (after face-to-face classes, in Zoom drop-ins, by email, or on Canvas discussion boards), and even sharing your own experiences of transitioning into university. These strategies, among others, will ensure these students feel <\/span>understood, included and supported in their own transition.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Tips for teachers – Michelle Cheung (2nd year Science\/Education)<\/h2>\n

The following practical suggestions will help all teachers to assist students from underrepresented backgrounds in their learning.<\/p>\n

Provide a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment for your students\"Michelle<\/h3>\n