The Fifth Annual SWIT Symposium
The Fifth Annual Student Writing in Transition Symposium
Tuesday 11 September 2012
The Learning Development Team, in conjunction with the European First Year Experience Network, held this free, one day staff development symposium with the aim of exploring strategies for helping students adapt to learning and writing in higher education.
The symposium explores three themes:
- The differences between learning in school, college and university and what impact this might have on the way that students engage with learning in the first year.
- Strategies and approaches for helping students to make the transition to learning at university, both in the curriculum and through professional support.
- Issues and approaches associated with supporting students as they learn how to write in HE.
The feedback was very positive with delegates and speakers commenting on the organisation of the event, the range and quality of speakers and sessions and the opportunity provided to network and share ideas and practice.
"I found keynotes and workshops all stimulated ideas for improved practice" (Symposium delegate)
"Excellent disability support" (Symposium delegate)
"Great content on a crucial but under-recognised area" (Symposium delegate)
"Excellent facilities and organisation" (Symposium delegate)
"Supportive atmosphere" (Symposium delegate)
Downloads
Programme.
Abstract and speaker profiles.
Keynote 1
Lisa Clughen and Dr. Christine Hardy, Nottingham Trent University
Building supportive cultures for student writing in UK higher education.
Parallel Sessions 1
Amanda French, Senior Lecturer, Wolverhampton University
Talking about the 'F' word: the importance of failure and the role it can usefully play in the writing development process.
Dr. Pat Hill, Senior Lecturer/Academic Skills Tutor, University of Huddersfield
Invisible writing and the link between semi-colons and stupidity.
Sarah Johnson, Learning and Teaching Officer, Nottingham Trent University and Sian Trafford, Learner Support Co-ordinator, Nottingham Trent University
From stumbling blocks to building blocks: overcoming some of the barriers to writing academically at NTU.
What is Academic Writing Worksheet.
What is Academic Writing info.
Parallel Sessions 2
Jane Challinor, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University
Scaffolding researching and writing skills for level 1 students.
Marta Ulanicka and Steve Rooney, Learning Development Team, University of Leicester
When you say, 'in the curriculum', you actually mean 'on the time-table', don't you? Opportunities and limitations when supporting transition in the mainstream curriculum.
Jackie Dunn, Senior Library Assistant, Robinson Library, Newcastle University and Ann-Marie Laws, Librarian/LRC Manager, Ponteland High School, Northumberland
Bridging the Divide: Information Literacy the forgotten link.
Parallel Sessions 3
Lia Blaj-Ward, Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University
Transitioning into postgraduate writing in a practice-oriented discipline.
Transitioning into postgraduate writing handout
Diane Schmitt, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University
Adding 'purpose' to instruction on the use of sources, referencing and "avoiding plagiarism" .
Chris Keenan, Learning and Teaching Fellow, Bournemouth University
Transition to HE STEM programmes
Keynote 2
Professor Liz Thomas, The Higher Education Academy
What Works? Facilitating an effective transition into higher education.
Sarah Johnson with representatives of a number of schemes currently run at NTU (see programme for full details).
Mentoring/Buddying Show and Tell.
Thank you to Library Business Services and the SWIT Planning Team (Ed Foster, Sian Trafford, Sharon Potter and Lisa Clughen) who helped organise this event. Thanks also to Alan and Sarah, the student mentors who helped throughout the day.
For further information about the event please contact Sarah Lawther and for further information about the Student Mentors please contact Sarah Johnson.
