Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module

Since 2008, higher education (HE) policies that aimed to diversify university student recruitment have increased enrolments from equity backgrounds. Supporting these students during their transition to university has been prioritised with the aim of enhancing retention, completion, and support for t...

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Main Authors: Brooke E. Harris-Reeves, Andrew G. Pearson, Barbara J. Hadley, Helen M. Massa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA) 2024-04-01
Series:JANZSSA
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2024-1-07
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author Brooke E. Harris-Reeves
Andrew G. Pearson
Barbara J. Hadley
Helen M. Massa
author_facet Brooke E. Harris-Reeves
Andrew G. Pearson
Barbara J. Hadley
Helen M. Massa
author_sort Brooke E. Harris-Reeves
collection DOAJ
description Since 2008, higher education (HE) policies that aimed to diversify university student recruitment have increased enrolments from equity backgrounds. Supporting these students during their transition to university has been prioritised with the aim of enhancing retention, completion, and support for their future employment outcomes. Low student retention or program completion rates may impact federal government funding models and HE institutional reputations. Thus, a wide range of implemented strategies have sought to support HE success for all students, including those from equity backgrounds. Students transitioning to HE have different academic experiences and expertise. Thus, the online module, known as Skills for Academic Success (SAS), developed in this study was introduced to promote an enhanced understanding of HE expectations and academic skills needed for success. The module was completed by commencing students during the initial weeks of their university enrolment. Students perceived that the SAS module significantly enhanced their transition to HE, their understanding of university expectations, bolstered their academic confidence, and honed their study skills for success. This study showed that adaptive online modules can engage and assist students, especially those from diverse and equity-rich backgrounds, supporting them to develop a comprehensive grasp of HE academic expectations and essential academic skills. Student feedback highlighted that the resource prepared them for success as they embarked on their academic journey in the unfamiliar territory of HE. --- <p xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><span property="dct:title">Equitable education: Enhancing academic skills and confidence through a first-year online module</span> by <span property="cc:attributionName">Brooke E. Harris-Reeves, Andrew G. Pearson, Barbara J. Hadley &Helen M. Massa</span> is licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" target="_blank" rel="license noopener noreferrer" style="display:inline-block;">CC BY 4.0<img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1"><img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1"></a></p>
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institution Kabale University
issn 1320-2480
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language English
publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA)
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spelling doaj-art-b3ea0e02e3ee48d4ad027e25d91f1cd72024-11-17T04:11:49ZengAustralian and New Zealand Student Services Association (ANZSSA)JANZSSA1320-24802207-84602024-04-01321Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online ModuleBrooke E. Harris-ReevesAndrew G. PearsonBarbara J. HadleyHelen M. MassaSince 2008, higher education (HE) policies that aimed to diversify university student recruitment have increased enrolments from equity backgrounds. Supporting these students during their transition to university has been prioritised with the aim of enhancing retention, completion, and support for their future employment outcomes. Low student retention or program completion rates may impact federal government funding models and HE institutional reputations. Thus, a wide range of implemented strategies have sought to support HE success for all students, including those from equity backgrounds. Students transitioning to HE have different academic experiences and expertise. Thus, the online module, known as Skills for Academic Success (SAS), developed in this study was introduced to promote an enhanced understanding of HE expectations and academic skills needed for success. The module was completed by commencing students during the initial weeks of their university enrolment. Students perceived that the SAS module significantly enhanced their transition to HE, their understanding of university expectations, bolstered their academic confidence, and honed their study skills for success. This study showed that adaptive online modules can engage and assist students, especially those from diverse and equity-rich backgrounds, supporting them to develop a comprehensive grasp of HE academic expectations and essential academic skills. Student feedback highlighted that the resource prepared them for success as they embarked on their academic journey in the unfamiliar territory of HE. --- <p xmlns:cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" xmlns:dct="http://purl.org/dc/terms/"><span property="dct:title">Equitable education: Enhancing academic skills and confidence through a first-year online module</span> by <span property="cc:attributionName">Brooke E. Harris-Reeves, Andrew G. Pearson, Barbara J. Hadley &Helen M. Massa</span> is licensed under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" target="_blank" rel="license noopener noreferrer" style="display:inline-block;">CC BY 4.0<img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/cc.svg?ref=chooser-v1"><img style="height:22px!important;margin-left:3px;vertical-align:text-bottom;" src="https://mirrors.creativecommons.org/presskit/icons/by.svg?ref=chooser-v1"></a></p>https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2024-1-07
spellingShingle Brooke E. Harris-Reeves
Andrew G. Pearson
Barbara J. Hadley
Helen M. Massa
Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
JANZSSA
title Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
title_full Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
title_fullStr Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
title_full_unstemmed Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
title_short Equitable Education: Enhancing Academic Skills and Confidence Through a First-Year Online Module
title_sort equitable education enhancing academic skills and confidence through a first year online module
url https://doi.org/10.30688/janzssa.2024-1-07
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