1. European First Year Experience Conference May 27, 2010 Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

2. 1.Background: what problem are we solving? 2.Participants: who were involved? 3.History: what have we done? 4.Products: what have we created? 5.Evaluation: what are the results? 6.Future: what are we going to do with it? 7.Questions: what remains to be solved? 8.Information: how to reach us. Program Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

3. Prospect students: no understanding of what studying at a research university actually involves. Doubts: Talented enough to be successful? 1. Background: the problem Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

4. Secondary school program: Preparing students for higher education: legally required part of the curriculum. 1. Background: the system Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

5. SURFfoundation: -cooperation -projectfunding Nationwide Programme e-Learning (NAP): “focuses on using e-Learning to increase the inflow and outflow of higher education and reducing the rate of drop-outs.” www.surf.nl (Dutch and English) 1. Background: the context Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

6. Online study skills course: -introduction to academic education -actual studying: several assignments (4 streams) -20 hours in 8 weeks -including guidance and feedback (by universities) -online: e-Learning  To have a better understanding of what studying at a research university actually involves and to experience what it takes to be successful. 1. Background: the solution Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

7. 2. Participants -Schools for secondary education (38) -Leiden University -Delft Technical University -Educational & IT-consultants Development: 5 teams Test & Pilot: Orientation and Transition programs Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

8. 3. History Development : September 2008 – September 2009 Test: October 26 – December 19, 2009 4 courses (4 streams): 38 participants Pilot: March 15 – May 7, 2010 7 courses (4 streams): 135 participants Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

9. 4. Products: manual Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

10. 4. Products: Blackboard courses Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

11. 4. Products: assessment model Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

12. 4. Products: certificate Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

13. 5. Evaluation: test - baseline (application)  The majority of prospect students are not sure they know what studying at a research university actually involves. Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities I know what studying at a research university actually involves. Strongly agree7,9 % Agree26,3 % Neutral55,3 % Disagree10,5 % Strongly disagree

14. 5. Evaluation: test - baseline (application)  Meanwhile, the majority of prospect students think that studying at a research university will be suitable for them. Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities I think that studying at a research university will be suitable for me. Strongly agree13,2 % Agree55,3 % Neutral28,9 % Disagree2,6 % Strongly disagree

15. 5. Evaluation: test - ‘drop outs’ ‘Drop out’: rather in this course than at university! -15: compulsory participation (lack of motivation) -5: too busy (school work) -2: illness -1: too difficult (chose a regular university) -1: unknown Reapplications: 3 Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

16. 5. Evaluation: test - impact assessment (survey)  After the course, the majority of prospect students have a clearer view of what studying at a research university actually involves. Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities Due to the course, I now have a clearer view of what studying at a research university actually involves. Culture (1)Econom. (6)Health (3)Physics (4) Strongly agree100 %33,3 %25 % Agree66,7 %33,3 %50 % Neutral33,3 % 25 % Disagree Strongly disagree

17. 5. Evaluation: test - impact assessment (survey) Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities  After the course, the majority of prospect students have a better understanding whether studying at a research university will be suitable for them. Due to the course, I now have a better understanding whether studying at a research university will be suitable for me. Culture (1)Econom. (6)Health (3)Physics (4) Strongly agree16,7 %25 % Agree100 %66,7 %100 %50 % Neutral16,7 %25 % Disagree Strongly disagree

18. 5. Evaluation: test - impact assessment (survey) Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities  After the course, all prospect students think that studying at a reseach university will be suitable for them; the majority are convinced it will be. Do you think that studying at a research university will be suitable for you? Culture (1)Econom. (6)Health (3)Physics (4) Definitely100 %50 %66,7 %50 % Probably50 %33,3 %50 % Neutral Probably not Definitely not

19. 6. Future Plan: Sustainable part of Orientation and Transition programs of Leiden University and Delft Technical University Next course (planned): Autumn 2010 Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

20. 7. Questions 1. How to stimulate participation? -More participants -More certificates 2. Who has worked with similar projects and what are the results? Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities

21. 8. Information Barbara Marx, Delft University of Technology: b.marx@tudelft.nl Hanny Gijsman, Leiden University: gijsman@iclon.leidenuniv.nl Website: www.aansluitingsmodule.nl (Dutch) Online study skills course for prospective students of research universities