Dear Tracey,
What an interesting project, I hope you'll be able to disseminate the results to the wider group.
[1] I've found Facebook is a good way to make contact (most universities have Freshers' Groups set up) - sign people up before they arrive when they're still excited about getting involved in university, then you may also catch some of the people who don't settle and leave early.
[2] Working with the Student Union can help to 'authorise' your research for students.
[3] Free food or vouchers to use in Student Union facilities seems to work better as a lure than a cash prize draw!
Best wishes,
Kim
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Dr Kim Shahabudin, Study Adviser & LearnHigher Research Officer
Room 107, Carrington Building, Whiteknights, University of Reading, RG6 6UA| ( 0118 378 4218| : www.rdg.ac.uk/studyskills : www.learnhigher.ac.uk
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From: learning development in higher education network on behalf of Tracey Armstrong
Sent: Tue 19/08/2008 13:36
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Student Involvement
Dear Colleagues,
I am the Project Officer on a 12 month project being run out of SPLASH (which is the academic skills centre at the University of Surrey) entitled 'Enhancing and Supporting the First Year Student Experience at the University of Surrey'. This project will produce recommendations for the services we are able to provide to first year students in SPLASH 09/10.
I am hoping to establish contact with as many first year students as possible, and as soon as possible, at the beginning of the Autumn semester. Can anyone give me advise on how best to 'encourage' the first year students to take part in research (which in this case will focus on first year student expectations and experiences)? Has anybody had experience of trying to engage students in taking part in research so early after arriving at university? At the moment my ideas include offering a cash prize in a draw in return for contact details, an advert in the student newspaper and possibly putting something on Face book.
I would be really grateful for input from anyone who has been in a similar situation and has found something that works well.
Tracey
Mrs T Armstrong
Project Officer
Supporting and Enhancing the First Year Experience at the University of Surrey
Student Personal Learning And Study Hub (SPLASH)
George Edwards Building
University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey
Tel: 01483 683370
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