Demystifying the student experience: A creative approach to pre induction and student support

This paper investigates new students’ perceptions and fears of going to university and highlights an HEA funded project at Teesside University where final year design students use their creative skills to support new students. David Cannon defined the ‘surprised newcomer’ beginning their university studies not knowing what to expect. This paper will therefore consider how we can support these new starters and help them become more effective learners earlier in their academic careers. During the last two years final year spatial design students have produced online pre-induction student guides to pass on their advice and knowledge to new students. These are designed to be positive and supportive documents that, instead of replicating tutor produced course handbooks, clearly come from a student voice and are often irreverent and original and utilise strong creative concepts. Additionally the creation of these handbooks helps final year students to self reflect and articulate their strategies for learning, coping and progressing while helping forge links between the course levels. The presentation will include video clips and visual material from the guides and introduce data from the initial evaluations.