1. + Supporting student transition through open courses Andrew Doig and Hannah Watts with Marica Scevlikova

2. + Session plan 1. Background to the current project 2. The development process 3. The delivery model 4. How does this support transition? 5. Ongoing plans 6. Q&A

3. + Who we are Andrew Doig Instructional Developer Supporting academics with the design, development and delivery of online courses Hannah Watts Graduate Associate 12 month position to work on development of the international student Open Online Course Marica Scevlikova Solent University student The presenter of the international student OOC

4. + Background to the current project Born out of a long standing cross-university project Recognise duplication of effort in supporting international student transition Included lecturers, librarian, international office, student support and learning technologist Early decision that an online course would suit At ALDinHE 2014, Kate Littlemore, University of Northampton, ‘From learning developer to world domination: how collaborative working accidentally created a SOOC’ Inspired us with the idea that the MOOC methodology could be used for targeted student transition groups 2014/15 Graduate Associate recruited

5. + Background to the current project: transition for international students

6. + Background to the current project: What’s the student need? “…explaining the grading and how it differs from other countries…I didn’t get it at all for the first few months… “I was told I was in a lecture but I expected there to be 400-600 people like there is in Germany, and there was like 10 people, so I was confused as to whether I was in the right place… “…it’s nice to have a basis where you can build your friendships from…it really helps to be able to find like-minded people when you’re coming to a new country”. “I think it would be really help to get information about societies and sports clubs before you arrive because you get the information quite late… “…general information like where is the cheapest place to shop, where can you go if you go on a night out…there’s already a lot of established things but it would be good to have it all in one area.”

7. + The development process: student engagement Working with: The Students Union The International Society Focus groups Testing participants Supporting research into the international student experience. Individual student interviews and case studies Recruiting students as ambassadors for the course run Identified student as course narrator - Marica

8. + The development process: Marica Scevlikova

9. + Different universities’ structures = various expectations My story… Solent International Society is partially helping (not enough) Students want to know the real university and the student life This might hugely overcome homesickness and cultural shock Online Course is going to become very SUCCESSFUL because it will make great impact on future students

10. + The delivery model xMOOC Structured, expert-led, content delivery (with testing?) cMOOC Connectivist – content and learning built by the community We preferred something that combines the two Structured learning opportunities with week ending conditional activities, plus Opportunities to interact with other students (pre- and post- arrival – via social media)

11. + The delivery model

12. + Open Solent

13. + Get ready for Southampton Solent: interactive, engaging and collaborative

14. + Supporting transition: student experience videos

15. + Supporting transition: graduate experience videos

16. + Supporting transition: interviews with support staff

17. + Supporting transition: study skills preparation Lecture-style videos to provide students with key study skills information, along with international students talking about study skills University.

18. + Supporting transition: meeting other students / staff Meeting other SSU-destination students Meeting existing SSU students Meeting various support staff

19. + Supporting transition: getting to know Southampton The SSU campus Maps Busses Finding accommodation Meeting people Dining and drinking

20. + Supporting transition: three strands of content On-campus welcome week

21. + Ongoing plans The ‘Get Ready for Southampton Solent University’ OOC is a pilot for Open Solent Evaluation in various stages: Pre-delivery testing In course and post course student evaluation Monitoring of progression of participants in destination courses Other transition groups FE – HE Mature students PG Study Professional short courses

22. + Any questions