Academic support Curriculum Review Presentation 12 th June 2008 Mark Garner

My background in the field  Part-time ASA  Adviser, Aboriginal Unit  Head, Educational Services, LaTrobe University,  Publications & conference papers on academic support (to 2004)  Supervisor, Northumbria PhD on academic literacy

Content of presentation Outline of AS Approaches to providing AS Advantages and disadvantages of approaches Recommendations for Aberdeen Discussion

1 Outline of AS (i) ESL (not covered today) Academic writing Reading Note-taking Exam technique Participation in tutorials …

1 Outline of AS (ii) Study-life balance— Time management Study habits Remembering what is learned Academic thinking Numeracy

2Provision of AS (i) Independent ASA(s): Dedicated Support Unit, sometimes with drop-in resource centre Within the counselling service Alongside professional development Alongside teaching-learning unit Department within Education …

2Provision of AS (ii) ASA(s) within school/department Independent of academic staff Member of academic staff, contributing to degree courses …

2Provision of AS (iii) Courses in academic literacy (  other “skills”): Generic, for major discipline areas Generic, content-based Specialist, in conjunction with major courses within school Any of these can be: hurdle requirement; compulsory; option

3Evaluation of approaches (i) Generic “skills”: University-wide—generally the least successful for academic literacy School-specific literacy—more effective, if part of structures & courses Either of these more effective in relation to note-taking, time management, &c. …

3Evaluation of approaches (ii) Academic courses in literacy (&c.) More successful if discipline-specific, (joint majors can be a problem) Content-based courses have potential, if they focus on both the “what” and the “how”, but …

3Evaluation of approaches (iii) Curriculum issues: Hurdle: credit points? Who should take the course? Compulsory: negative attitudes; difficult to teach across ability range Optional: soft option for able students?

4Recommendations (i) 1 Avoid generic approach, esp. to literacy (highly discipline-specific) …

4Recommendations (ii) 2 Integrate with college/school teaching and learning strategies. Issues include: Assessment requirements Lecturers’ grasp of literacy Feedback (extent, nature, promptness, class vs individual) Consistency of approach by academic staff …

4Recommendations (iii) 3 Provision for research to inform the academic support: Scholarly pedagogical research Surveys of demand, &c.

4Recommendations (iv) 4Staff member providing academic support should specialize both in a subject area and in learning 5Integrate academic support with professional development

Discussion …