Engaging Foundation Learners with a Student-led Magazine Jane Sjoberg

Overview The BIA context An understanding of ‘enhanced engagement’ Challenges with international foundation students The Magazine Project – key features What do students say? (video) The finished product Practicalities Summary of enhanced benefits Future directions

The BIA Foundation Context c200 international students – China, Middle East, Nigeria etc Language levels from 5.5 to 9+ Growing numbers of U18s (16+) EAP modules (40 credits)

What is ‘enhanced’ engagement? Engaging SS in their learning is fundamental Enhanced engagement implies engaging SS more holistically outside a specific learning environment (e.g. class/lab/lecture/seminar) promoting SS interaction with the university context and the wider community

Challenges Encouraging international foundation students to ‘get involved’ in the broader university experience can be challenging due to: lower language levels age restrictions on social clubs/events lack of practice managing unstructured time confidence/shyness difficulties ‘making friends’ outside immediate circle multiple transitions – from home to UK and from school to university – from sun to …. from delicious food to….()

Meeting the Challenge: The Magazine Project

Key Features of the Project Started in 2012 with the main aim to get SS involved in ‘outside class’ experiences Aim to produce 1 issue for end of each academic year Scaffolded environment (facilitated by 1-2 teachers in a familiar place) with regular meetings Opportunities for international students across pathways to meet and mix Student-led – fosters learner autonomy Editing team, writing, planning, designing, promoting

Meet The Students

What do you think their answers were? The Questions What do you think their answers were? 1) What did you hope to get out of the magazine project experience? 2) What did you learn? 3) What was your most memorable experience? 4) What advice would you give to the next magazine team?

Watch and Compare Video (c.6’30)

Meet ‘The Key ’ What the students we interviewed all mentioned was the thrill of seeing the end product…

Practicalities Print copies – one per editing member of the Project Team/contributor 100 copies c£350 Used in international marketing events/given out on open days etc

Digital Versions (Easy & Free) We use: www.youblisher.com http://www.youblisher.com/p/581913-The-Key-The -BFA-Student-Magazine/ http://www.youblisher.com/p/832695-The-Key-BFA-Student-Magazine-Issue-2-2014/ http://www.youblisher.com/p/1146370-The-Key-BFA-Student-Magazine-Issue-3-2015/ http://www.youblisher.com/p/1557742-BIA-Foundation-Magazine-2015-16-Issue-4/ http://www.youblisher.com/p/1810780-The-Key-BIA-Foundation-Magazine-Issue-5-16-17/ Digital version goes on university intranet

Enhanced Benefits – a Summary COGNITIVE Transferable skills – CV Time management –setting & meeting deadlines Group-work and group dynamics Communication skills Dealing with setbacks Getting motivated and maintaining momentum Writing in different genres (strange ‘reverse’ effect of improving academic style) Proofreading/polishing/presentation Digital skills (images, copyright, layout) BEHAVIOURAL EMOTIONAL

What Next? Possible avenues to explore… Working across international programmes (e.g. getting UG presessional students involved) Involving Home Foundation students (EPS – 60 SS this year) – SS already do most modules together Maybe working across institutions on parallel projects (teaming up SS remotely)

Want to know more? http://digital.elgazette.com/may-2017/writers-re-treat.html J.e.sjoberg@bham.ac.uk S.gardner@bham.ac.uk