Online pre-induction support

In an age where technology plays an increasingly important role in education, it is vital that we utilise available technologies to provide effective and targeted support to students during their crucial transition into higher education. This chapter outlines recent work at the University of Bradford in supporting students’ transition into higher education using a range of facilities that take advantage of tools such as social networking and e-portfolios.

The approach describes four strands: online discussion/social networking for new students; a reflective skills activity using an e-portfolio; online expectations survey; and extensive online resources such as reusable learning objects. The aim is for students to have access to all of these prior to or at the point of arrival to ease the transition into higher education.

Our findings demonstrate the benefit of this approach as evidenced by the levels of take-up and feedback elicited. Also discussed are some of the potential barriers that may need to be addressed in order to successfully implement such an approach.