The process of adapting an online induction course to support distinct student cohorts

McIntyre, K. and O'Neill, J. (2022) The process of adapting an online induction course to support distinct student cohorts. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 24, (doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi24.829)

Abstract

Successful student transition into higher education is fundamental for student retention and future success. We have previously adapted a freely available online induction course to meet the needs of incoming Medicine (MBChB) students. This case study outlines the process of further developing this course in response to student feedback and adapting a new version to support a distinct cohort of students studying Life Sciences (BSc) degrees. Both courses were united in the aim to equip incoming students with an awareness of digital skills and key contacts for support and further training. However, each course was tailored to the specific requirements of the students it was designed to support. We evaluated student engagement with each course using course completion data and analytics. We observed that Medicine students were highly engaged with the course initially, with most students (92%) completing the course. Conversely, Life Sciences students engaged poorly with the course initially (17% completion) but returned to it throughout the academic year to access materials relevant to academic skills development, in part due to prompting from academic staff. We recommend that adopters of this course, or those like it, ensure that courses are designed to meet the specific needs of students. Good time management is essential in ensuring that course implementation deadlines are met and that student input is incorporated into course design. We suggest that course coordinators consider how they might promote engagement with induction materials, both initially and throughout the academic year.

• Item Type: Articles
• Keywords: Transition, induction, digital literacy, digital skills.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McIntyre, Dr Kirsty and O'Neill, Dr Jennifer
• Authors: McIntyre, K., and O'Neill, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
• Publisher: Association for Learning Development in Higher Education
• ISSN: 1759-667X
• ISSN (Online): 1759-667X
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License