Academic support

Curriculum Review Presentation

12th June 2008

Mark Garner

My background in the field

Part-time ASA 1984-1991 Adviser, Aboriginal Unit Head, Educational Services, LaTrobe

University, 1993-1998 Publications & conference papers on

academic support (to 2004) Supervisor, Northumbria PhD on

academic literacy

Content of presentation

Outline of AS

Approaches to providing AS

Advantages and disadvantages of

approaches

Recommendations for Aberdeen

Discussion

1 Outline of AS (i)

ESL (not covered today) Academic writing Reading Note-taking Exam technique Participation in tutorials …

1 Outline of AS (ii)

Study-life balance—Time managementStudy habits

Remembering what is learned Academic thinking Numeracy

2 Provision of AS (i)

Independent ASA(s): Dedicated Support Unit, sometimes

with drop-in resource centre Within the counselling service Alongside professional development Alongside teaching-learning unit Department within Education …

2 Provision of AS (ii)

ASA(s) within school/department

Independent of academic staffMember of academic staff,

contributing to degree courses

…

2 Provision of AS (iii)

Courses in academic literacy ( other “skills”): Generic, for major discipline areas

Generic, content-based Specialist, in conjunction with major

courses within school Any of these can be: hurdle

requirement; compulsory; option

3 Evaluation of approaches (i)

Generic “skills”:University-wide—generally the least

successful for academic literacy

School-specific literacy—more effective, if part of structures & courses

Either of these more effective in relation to note-taking, time management, &c. …

3 Evaluation of approaches (ii)

Academic courses in literacy (&c.)More successful if discipline-specific, (joint majors can be a problem)

Content-based courses have potential, if they focus on both the “what” and the “how”, but …

3 Evaluation of approaches (iii)

Curriculum issues:Hurdle: credit points? Who

should take the course? Compulsory: negative attitudes;

difficult to teach across ability range

Optional: soft option for able students?

4 Recommendations (i)

1 Avoid generic approach, esp. to literacy (highly discipline-specific) …

4 Recommendations (ii)

2 Integrate with college/school teaching and learning strategies. Issues include: Assessment requirements

Lecturers’ grasp of literacy Feedback (extent, nature,

promptness, class vs individual)

Consistency of approach by academic staff …

4 Recommendations (iii)

3 Provision for research to inform the academic support:

Scholarly pedagogical research

Surveys of demand, &c.

4 Recommendations (iv)

4 Staff member providing academic support should specialize both in a subject area and in learning

5 Integrate academic support with professional development

Discussion …