1. Easing the Transition: Threshold
Concepts & IL workshops for visiting
Y13 students
Erin Nephin
Leeds Metropolitan University

2. Previous Y13 Sessions…
© Bill Barnes & Gene Ambaum Unshelved.com, Used with Permission

3. Threshold Concepts
“Transformed way of understanding, without
which the learner cannot progress” (Meyer
and Land, 2003)
• Transformative
• Irreversible
• Integrative
• Bounded
• Troublesome Meyer, J.H.F and Land, R. (2003) Threshold Concepts and Troublesome Knowledge (1):
Linkages to Ways of Thinking and Practising [Internet]. Occasional Report 4. London,
Economic and Social Research Council. Available from:
<http://www.etl.tla.ed.ac.uk/docs/ETLreport4.pdf> [Accessed 15 March 2013].

4. The Backward Design Process
From Understanding by Design (Wiggins and
McTighe, 2006)
Three Stages:
1. Identification of desired results;
2. Determine acceptable evidence;
3. Plan learning experiences and instruction.
Wiggins, G. and McTighe, J. (2006) Understanding by Design. Ohio, Pearson.

5. The Redesign
2 Major Changes:
1. Splitting the workshops (move from lab to
classroom based);
2. Build in feedback/self-assessment
mechanisms (“3-2-1 Assessment”)

6. The Pilot

7. Feedback and Assessment

8. Feeding Forward
• Development of the IT based sessions
• Feeding into existing L4 workshops for first-
year students
• Feeding into widening participation days