2011

9 February: Transition Pedagogy with Sally Kift

Professor Sally Kift - Foundation Director of the QUT First Year Experience Project discussed her Transition Pedagogy, with Ann Luzeckyj (Lecturer, Higher Education)  Information on the background, implementation and progress of the Transition Pedagogy were discussed.  For more information about the project please visit:  http://www.fyhe.qut.edu.au/transitionpedagogy/   

2010

16th November: Presentations Flinders staff about the innovative work they are doing with first year student cohorts

Louise Reynolds - Health Sciences (Flinders Prevention, Promotion and Primary Health Care, Social Health Sciences) on Supporting Sessional Staff .

Mary-Anne Kelton - Social and Behavioural Sciences (International Relations) on Hypotheticals .

Sue Pyke - Science and Engineering (Chemical and Physical Sciences) on Changing the way we Teach

1 July: Bob Lingard Presentation (PPT 1MB)

Professor Bob Lingard from the School of Education at the University of Queensland has an international reputation in the areas of sociology of education and education policy. Professor Lingard gave a presentation based on the keynote paper he delivered at the First Year in Higher Education Conference. He focused on describing "productive pedagogy" which includes four dimensions - intellectual demand, connectedness, supportiveness and working with and valuing difference.

2009

11 November: First year students and the Bradley initiatives (PDF 1MB)  

Professor Trevor Gale, founding director of the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education; an Australian Government funded research centre hosted by the University of South Australia  discussed issues related to teaching first year students in light of the Bradley initiatives taken up by the Federal Government. His talk explored whether an equity agenda and social inclusion policies can be realised for Australia, and if so how will this impact on the ways in which academic staff work. 

5 August: It's not what I expected: when expectation and experiences of first year students do not match

Dr's Benjamin McCann and Russell Brinkworth (PDF 903KB) from Adelaide University will present the results of longitudinal research have conducted on the expectations and experiences of students transitioning from high school to university and comparing them to the opinions of their lecturers. Furthermore they will discuss their submission to the ALTC for funds extending this project to cover the three South Australian universities and teachers at a number of high schools around the state. Addressing the mismatch between student expectations of university and their experiences once they commence has important ramifications for student satisfaction and, ultimately, retention. This is particularly pertinent given the Rudd Government's reforms to "allow more Australians, irrespective of their socio-economic circumstances, to access a quality higher education qualification" (12 May 2009, Media release, Senator the Hon Kim Carr).

Jen Leske (PDF 564KB) , Coordinator, Transition to University will discuss supporting a seamless transition for the many pathways and  Jane Hogan (PDF 307KB) , Coordinator International Student Services Unit, will discuss International student transition. the session will provide an opportunity to consider ways of inspiring achievement in students coming to university via the many pathways (high school, TAFE, return to study, via bridging courses, international pathways, graduate entry etc).

18 February: Andrew Wood, Health and Counselling Services, Paula Williams, Disability Liaison Officer and Ann Luzeckyj, Academic Development Team, Flinders University .

Andrew discussed key issues and challenges facing new students and how his team provides help and support to them and Paula discussed her role in relation to students with disabilities. Their presentation was titled  Commencing students Challenges and Supports.pdf (PDF 60KB) . Ann provideed a report on her attendance at the First Year Experience Curriculum Design Symposium 2009 -  1st year forum Feb 2009.pdf (PDF 30KB) .

2008

1 December: Flinders support services

Verity Kingsmill,  Graduate Skills Development Coordinator (PDF 63KB) , Veronica Ghee and Heidi Savilla,  Liaison Librarians (PDF 3MB) , Flinders University. Discussed the work they currently do with academic staff to provide support to first year students and possibilities of what they can do to inspire achievement in first year students.

4 August: Dr Lynn Burnett

Dr Burnett ran a workshop titled " First Year Experience: How to be creative and maintain a sense of purpose in a challenging higher education landscape... or challenges, strategies and goal setting (PDF 3MB) " at the August Forum. Her workshop involved participant participation (PDF 10KB) at the beginning of the session and group activities throughout. A summary of the group activities (PDF 21KB) is available.

 2 June: Flinders academic staff

The June Forum (the first in 2008) featured a range of presenters from Flinders University who showcased a range of practices they use to help address issues of academic literacy, expectations, retention and attrition for first year students. These included presentations from:

2007

4 October: Professor Sally Kift

Professor Kift was the keynote speaker at the October 2007 1st Year experience forum. Her session was called " The first year experience: What is it & how might we improve it (PDF 250KB) ". She also gave presentations to the First Year Working Party on her Carrick Senior Fellowship (PDF 135KB) and how to provide Support for sessional staff (PDF 568KB) . Sally provided links to power point slides from the paper she presented at the 2007 First Year in Higher Education conference in Brisbane (PDF 463KB) .

Contact the Centre for University Teaching for further information about the fora or these presentations.

http://www.fyhe.qut.edu.au/transitionpedagogy/