1. Articulating from FE to HE: Assessing & Improving Academic Confidence Enhancement Themes conference, Thursday 9 June 2016 John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh Margaret McCann, Alexis Barlow & Paula Green (Student Partner) Department of Business Management, Glasgow Caledonian University

2. Overview of Project Objectives: 1.Analyse and evaluate existing literature and measures of student confidence 2.Gather data on direct entry students’ self-rated levels of confidence at the start and end of their first year of study 3.Identify the main factors that affect confidence 4.Design and evaluate ways to improve student confidence on entry to university Aim: to identify the level of confidence of direct entry students, which factors affect confidence and design appropriate interventions to improve confidence levels in the future.

3. Definitions of confidence Academic self-confidence: “students’ self-perceptions of their academic ability” Academic Behavioural Confidence: “..seeks to provide a general measure of a student’s confidence in undertaking their academic course”

4. Data Collection 2 surveys: Sept 2015 and Feb 2016 Distributed to: 221 direct entry students Question design based on literature, Academic Behavioural Confidence scale and American Freshman Survey Included:- – 10 Demographic/Background Questions (Sept only) – 26 Self-Rating Confidence Questions: ie “how well can you do the following..” questions on areas such as academic writing; social skills; preparation for classes; independent learning; information retrieval; presenting; academic feedback Response rate Sept 201568%N=151 Feb 201629%N=65

5. Survey Sept 2015 results – Background demographics 75%Under 25 years80%Stay at home 60%Female64%First in family @ uni 71%Work part-time43%Someone at home to help Students on 6 programmes : BA Business Management, BA International Business, BA International Business & Finance, BA International Business & Hospitality Management, BA International Business & Tourism Management, BA International Supply Chain Management and from 6 HNDs : HND Business, HND Admin & IT, HND Supply Chain Management, HND Hospitality Management, HND Travel & Tourism, HND Accounting and from 9 colleges (mainly west of Scotland)

6. Survey Sept 2015: Initial Findings Student confidence is very high! (Overall average self-rated confidence = 7.43) Examples of average ratings (10=exceptionally well; 0=not at all): Be able to work on my own8.50 Work as a member of a team8.30 Take notes in lectures7.95 Seek feedback on my work7.95 Write coursework in my own words7.72 Undertake required reading7.61

7. Survey Sept 2015: Initial Findings Academic confidence was affected by the college students attended (p<0.05 level) Glasgow Kelvin College students most confident ‘Rural’ college students less confident

8. Survey Sept 2015 Analysis of Findings Question Most confident Least Confident Q1 “get good grades and complete my degree”8.005.00 Q3 “know what is required from my studies”8.365.33 Q8 “prepare for lectures and seminars”8.505.67 Q9 “organise and present information found through my research”8.435.89 Q14 “reference appropriately”7.864.33 Q15 “succeed at exams”8.215.67 Q19 “be able to work on my own”9.506.00 Q20 “take notes in lectures”9.145.67 Q21 “ask questions if I don’t understand something”8.505.78 Q22 “seek feedback on my work”8.855.78 Q23 “how well college has prepared you?”8.004.78 Q25 “how motivated are you to succeed”9.967.90

9. Surveys Sept 2015-Feb 2016: Comparison Sep-15Feb-16Difference Get good grades and complete my degree programme7.716.48-1.23 Undertake required reading for modules7.616.72-0.89 Seek feedback on my work7.957.14-0.81 Put forward my own ideas and support my opinion with a logical argument7.296.68-0.61 Organise and present information found through my research7.306.78-0.52 Deliver a presentation to a small group of fellow students6.767.300.54 Reference appropriately6.507.160.65 Average7.437.17-0.26

10. Survey Feb 2016 Additional questions: Yes44% No35% Not sure21% Was your experience of Trimester A as expected? “It was how I imagined. Reading over the module handbooks gave me an indication as to how much work was required.” “Did not expect it to have so much Independent learning.” “Although hard, it wasn't as much of a struggle as I thought.” “More stressful than I first thought but now know the attitude I should adopt throughout Trimester B.” “It was to a certain extent. Surprised at the amount of self learning required

11. Survey Feb 2016 Additional questions: Has your academic confidence changed since starting uni? Increased a lot10% Increased48% No change14% Decreased22% Decreased a lot6% “In the beginning of the academic year I was anxious about everything but now I am more confident because I know what I should do” “It is different from college and I am always learning, therefore my confidence keeps increasing” “Now that I know the routine, I am confident for next trimester “ “I received lower marks than I expected even after putting a lot of time and effort into reports” “I was always confident in my writing but after completing academic writing at university I have come to realise that I have to improve greatly on this.”

12. Survey Feb 2016 Comments from students In your opinion, what have been the most challenging aspects of university life? “Writing critically, and keeping up with the reading.” “Writing in an academic style, particularly critically.” “Group work was difficult but enjoyable at the same time” “The difference between what was expected at college and university.” “Working more independently “

13. Survey Feb 2016 Comments from students In your opinion, what have been the best aspects of university work? “Meeting new friends and being able to discuss our problems and questions re: university.” “Working with different groups of people” “The help and support given by tutors as and when required. “ “I like how the different methods of teaching which then offer different levels of interaction. “ “Group work and feedback on work”

14. Survey Feb 2016 Comments from students What further help could be put in place? Before coming to university “More information about what is expected during assignments “ “Focus more on the difference between describing and analysing” “Teaching about academic writing and critically analysing. And using journals. As this is not taught at college ” “Referencing & Academic Writing ” “Colleges could adapt their programmes more to prepare students better.” “More emphasis on the need to team work and how to correctly reference.”

15. Survey Feb 2016 Comments from students What further help could be put in place? When you are at university “Further or more detailed feedback. ” “The opportunity to do a practice report or one that has a very low weighting on your overall grade before we do the big reports” “Further support regarding critical analysis and academic writing” “I think the help given at university is really good and there is a lot more help available than I expected.”

16. Way Forward: Managing expectations 1.Analysis of confidence v actual (assessment) results 2.Development of web resources on academic writing, referencing and critical analysis 3.Development and evaluation of web site for college students to develop more realistic expectationsweb site