(1783)ENHANCING THE 1ST YEAR EXPERIENCE;;USE OF A DIGITALYEARBOOK AS A RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENTS

摘要

The first year college experience is probably one of the most important years in a student’sundergraduate education;;more than half of all students who withdraw from college do so during theirfirst year. It is a time of great transition, settling into a new environment, perhaps moving away fromhome, adjusting to the change from the structured 2nd level classroom to a scenario where attendanceisn’t monitored and preparing and handing up assignments require organization skills and discipline.The paper examines mechanisms that can be used to ease the transition from 2nd to third level.Through the use of e-portfolios, we have used web 2.0 tools to allow students express their creativeside and be innovative, explore in depth the course of study they are taking, work in groups which canprovide peer to peer support and experience peer mentoring from students a year ahead. Theexpressions of learning in an e-portfolio can range from lower order thinking skills such as aPowerPoint presentation to higher order thinking skills as seen in a wiki, a blog acting as a reflectivejournal or a podcast. To align with learning, e portfolios offer students the opportunity to self- assessand record their learning experiences. As learners create their own portfolios, their unique voiceshould be evident from navigating the portfolio, reading the reflections, watching the clips or listeningto the podcast. From a course coordinators perspective, we are given the opportunity to see studentsas they really are, recognize difficulties and acknowledge achievements. It fosters student-teacherrelationships which results in deeper student reflections, student empowerment and self-esteem asstudents feel listened to. We pilot the use of a digital yearbook to celebrate and record classachievements and use at an award giving ceremony at the end of first year.