Promoting Student Accessibility to Active Learning Residential Field Courses by Increasing Student Confidence and Addressing Fears Over Attending

Le Vin, A. L. (2019) Promoting Student Accessibility to Active Learning Residential Field Courses by Increasing Student Confidence and Addressing Fears Over Attending. Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 18-19 Jul 2019.

Abstract

There is growing concern throughout the university sector at the increasing rates of students suffering with mental ill health (O'Malley, Wheeler et al. 1990, Pledge, Lapan et al. 1998). Furthermore, there have been recent calls from the UK Government for Universities to increase their support levels for students with mental ill health. Therefore, any measures that can be carried out to increase student confidence and alleviate student concerns or fears in their university life should be positive steps to promoting good mental health. Undertaking fieldwork is an important part of numerous degrees. Fieldwork can incorporate many aspects of active learning including working in groups to plan, problem solve and undertake research projects and physically learning scientific data collection techniques. Furthermore, attending fieldwork has been found to reduce prior feelings of anxiety and increase student confidence and hence it can be a really positive student experience (Boyle, Maguire et al. 2007). Therefore, we should try to encourage as many students as possible to partake in field courses. From personal communications and observations there is an increasing number of students expressing concerns over attending residential field-courses and in several cases, the students have felt unable to overcome their fears and take part in them. This research aims to investigate whether having access to a range of additional information about the field-courses will help to reduce students concerns and fears and support them to participate fully in this active learning experience. Resources included videos and photos of teaching, social, fieldwork and accommodation spaces to allow students to become familiar with their surroundings prior to the field courses. Additionally, information such as course content, dietary provisions and local amenities were given in advance of the courses. The research hopes to find an increase in student confidence and hopes to make the field-courses more inclusive by supporting students in accessing all opportunities within their education.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Le Vin, Dr Ashley
• Authors: Le Vin, A. L.
• Subjects: L Education > L Education (General); L Education > LB Theory and practice of education; L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education; Q Science > Q Science (General); Q Science > QL Zoology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences