Easing the transition to university- Successful student induction Pauline Fitzgerald, Biomedical sciences

Aims of induction? Students get to know each other Get to know personal tutor Get to know the course team Find way round campus Get used to lab Expectations of them and us Opportunities

Second and third year induction Changes from year before Differences between year 1 and 2 Or year 2 and 3

Get to know each other Icebreakers- you have just completed one! ( I use this one to allocate personal tutor groups ) Lots of other ideas- introduction bingo, logic/ murder mystery puzzles Interview each other- compile book Group work

Allocate to groups -Belbin questionnaire Get them to complete a task We use a lab experiment on turnip enzymes Final product is a poster

Getting to know course team/ personal tutor All day induction- allocated and then sit with group All course team take part in the day running different activities

Finding a way round the campus Treasure hunt in teams covering all the areas where they will be taught, as well as catering facilities, library etc

Lab Lab taster day- several small activities different pieces of equipment

Expectations Course handbook quiz

Opportunities Day 1 half day session Includes talks from Leeds Met volunteering, west Yorkshire STEM ambassadors, student reps, careers

Does it work? Students seem to like it They can find their way to lectures in week 1! They know how to behave in lab They meet students they may not have spoken to before and have more opportunities to make friends Retention during first few weeks reduced