The Western Conference on Science Education

Proposal Title

Fostering success for first year students: an engaging discussion for educators

Presenter Information

Tamara L. Kelly, York UniversityFollow
Tanya C. Noel, University of WindsorFollow
Karen Smith, University of British ColumbiaFollow
Paula J. Wilson, York UniversityFollow

Session Type

Panel Discussion

Room

FNB 2240

Start Date

4-7-2019 1:00 PM

Keywords

first-year experience, academic skills, advising, well-being, personal development, self-regulation

Primary Threads

Teaching and Learning Science

Abstract

Students’ first year experience (FYE) at university is crucial for building a strong foundation for successful academic performance and retention, well-being, and engagement (e.g., Tinto, 2009). The purpose of this panel is two-fold: to examine the practices that first-year students can employ to ease the transition to university or college, and to share techniques/approaches that educators and advisors can use to facilitate that transition by supporting student learning, wellness, and other components of the first year experience. The panel will focus on best practices (from current research and our own experiences) and highlight the potential to share and learn from other educators. Panel members and participants will consider priorities for the first year classroom/experience and strategies for addressing these priorities.

The panel comprises faculty from a diversity of universities and locations with varied student demographics. All members have extensive experience teaching and advising first year students. Although the panel members are all biologists, many aspects of the first year experience (and related challenges) will be similar in other science programs. This interactive panel discussion will identify issues and techniques that are relevant across institutions, with a focus on practical, evidence-based strategies that could be applied in participants’ courses/departments. Ideally, this panel will also serve as a catalyst for creating a connection among first year educators using a community of practice model.

Elements of Engagement

The session will be an interactive panel discussion, involving session participants as well as the panel members. Initially, we will use break out groups for a brainstorming session on key priorities for first year students (e.g., advising, student well-being, academic skills, self-regulation), with hosts facilitating the sharing of ideas, and providing relevant literature and experiences. Throughout the session, participants will be involved in exploring aspects of these key priorities and how they can be implemented and supported. The session will provide concrete ideas for fostering student success, and conclude with a discussion of whether and how a community of practise might provide ongoing support to colleagues who are interested in moving the first year experience agenda forward in their own courses and/or at their own institution.

NOTE: We are happy to have this as a workshop if reviewers feel it would fit better there than as a panel.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License