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PG CERT ULT
ECTS credits: 2.5 Intended Learning Outcomes
UKPSF Indicative Mapping: A, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, K3,
V3, V4 By the end of the topic students will be better able to:
Word Count: 750-1500
Tutor: Dr Martyn Kingsbury 1. Identify the key challenges of academic
transitions.
Academic Transitions
2. Be aware of steps College has taken to
Aims facilitate academic transitions.
Transition from school to university is challenging for 3. Outline ways other HEIs have tackled
many students and this topic will focus on how staff challenges associated with academic
can help students with their transition to a leading transitions in STEM disciplines.
university and the academic demands that this will
place on them. The topic will afford students the 4. Evaluate departmental provision for
opportunity to evaluate their departmental practice facilitating an effective transition to
in relation to transition and tackle three key areas university.
of interest: academic writing, independent learning
and building resilient learners. We will focus on Initial Reading:
the academic transition from school to university,
however much of what will be discussed will be Students will be asked to read the Higher Education
applicable to other academic transitions that staff Academy’s Guide to Independent Learning which is a
will encounter in their teaching work. Participants will short document outlining examples of good practice
have the chance to explore case studies from other in this area.
institutions as well as reflecting upon the way their
own department handles academic transition. Outcome Assignment:
Teaching Methods Students will be asked to submit a short written
assignment identifying measures to help students
within their department with their academic transition
to university. This will cover:
This topic is taught using an interactive face-to- • Educational backgrounds and the new
face session which involves learner participation learning environments in your discipline. This
throughout. The teaching is designed to allow the will need to be supported by data relating to
group to explore wider thinking about how best to your department’s student intake.
facilitate effective academic transitions and relate
this consistently to what makes sense at a research- • Encouraging independent learning in your
intensive STEM university like Imperial. Prior to the discipline. This will include the distinctive
session students will be sent a selection of relevant nature of your learning environments.
pre-reading which will serve as a stimulus for
discussion throughout the session. • Academic writing in STEM subjects and
learning the nomenclature of your discipline.
EDU © Imperial College London 2015-16 41
