6. Do I Do This In My Own Time? Using Induction Week to Maximize Student Engagement

Abstract

This study presents a project undertaken to address a potential problem in getting new students to engage with their academic life. In September 2009, a new course design was introduced into the BA (Hons) Education program at the University of Wales, Newport. The course team was keen to ensure this new development did not lead to a fragmentation of the new cohort, and wanted to develop an approach to aid the formation of a group identity early on. They decided to introduce a non-assessed group activity during induction week: the new cohort was given the task of creating a video guide to information literacy within the first four weeks of the course. The project resulted in the creation of video guides, and demonstrated that students engaged in a focused manner with a range of services and developed a level of awareness and familiarity to support them during their student life.