Project:   ‘Transition Pedagogy’ and Its Effects on Student Academic Success and Wellbeing

Internship details
Internship Availability	Semester 1, 2024
Internship Discipline/s	Science Communication Psychology
Internship Level	2nd or 3rd yr undergraduate, or PG coursework
Available to International Students	Yes
Preferred Project Skills	Data analytics Writing and communication Research including qualitative analysis
Clearances Required	No
Host Supervisor	Sarah Walker: Manager, Engagement and Success, E: Sarah.Swenson@anu.edu.au, X56080; Prof Lucy Neave: Associate Dean Student Experience, CASS, E: assocdeanst.cass@anu.edu.au, X54465
Location	TBA
Project Opportunities/Benefits for the Intern	This is an opportunity for a self-motivated student who can work independently, and who has an understanding of data and research methods, to work on a self-contained and manageable research project, which will have benefits for first year students in the future.

Summary:

‘Transition pedagogy’ is pedagogy that intentionally assists commencing first year students to become independent learners and navigate academic, cultural, social and bureaucratic challenges that form part of first year experience at university. Integrating transition pedagogy into first year courses is known to improve student retention rates, especially among students who are from diverse, under-represented and marginalised backgrounds (see Kift 2015; Kift, Nelson and Clarke 2010).

This project will study the implementation and incorporation of transition pedagogy in sixteen first year courses across all colleges at the Australian National University. It will achieve this aim by conducting a series of cross-campus focus groups with first year course conveners. At the beginning of the study, participants will be asked what kinds of activities and assessment they design and implement for first year, as well as whether they invite areas of the university that support students into the classroom.

At the end of the study, focus groups will be re-convened to ask participants how they think that their efforts to assist students in transitioning to the university were received, their perceptions of the effectiveness of their integration of transition pedagogy, and its possible effects on student academic success and wellbeing.

Project Outcomes

A literature review of other similar studies. A report summarising the findings and limitations of the results from focus groups. This report will be provided to the Orientation and Transition committee, and to the participants.

Science Skills

In consultation with stakeholders, the development of a series of questions for focus groups

Critical and analytical skills pertaining to the project and its limitations

Conducting focus groups

Analysis of qualitative results

Report writing