Second year students use of CLaSS Dr Avril Buchanan Centre for Learning and Study Support De Montfort University

CLaSS Enhancing academic practice, writing development and professional skills 6 members of the team (4.2FTE) Provides: – Study and writing development tutorials – E-tutorials – Central workshop programme – Weekly drop-in session – Bespoke faculty teaching – Electronic self assessment exercise – First year induction: “The University Challenge” – Online provisions: Focus on Guides etc. – Writing group for research students – Coordinate peer mentoring – Specialist in specific learning differences 6 members of the team (4.2FTE) Provides: – Study and writing development tutorials – E-tutorials – Central workshop programme – Weekly drop-in session – Bespoke faculty teaching – Electronic self assessment exercise – First year induction: “The University Challenge” – Online provisions: Focus on Guides etc. – Writing group for research students – Coordinate peer mentoring – Specialist in specific learning differences

Who uses CLaSS? Project Aims: – Investigation into who uses CLaSS and if student engagement results in student improvement. How can CLaSS help with retention and academic performance issues across the university? – Kramer (2000)

Faculties and Second years Topics: – “Critical” – Writing development – Literature review – Time management and procrastination Issues arising: – Form of engagement – Presentation of CLaSS session to student

Self selecting: Second years and CLaSS BookedAttendConversion% Users Autumn/Winter %20% Spring/Summer %29% Overall %25%

Conclusions and future directions Second year students show a higher engagement with CLaSS during their second semester. Possible reasons: – Response to the return of their assignments – Focus on development of their third year projects – Schreiner (2009) Engaged learning: students psychological engagement with the learning process holds considerable potential Further investigation: how are the needs of second year students different? – Advertising workshop sessions and the language used Embedding sessions into a module that to date does not engage with CLaSS