Objective: This paper describes the literature that underpins the work of a funded teaching and learning project (Student Success Toolbox project). This project focuses on how effective socialisation supports can be utilised to support flexible learners as they enter higher Education (HE) and create new student identities, such that the ‘entry shock’ they experience does not result in an early exit from HE. Method: The project addresses the problem of effective flexible learner transitions into HE, during the study-lifecycle’s initial stages, and is creating a suite of appropriately designed, openly available digital readiness/preparation tools, based on an analysis of existing literature. Result: The suite of tools is currently being created, with tool effectiveness being evaluated through small pilot evaluations with flexible learners. Conclusion: Many flexible learners succumb to ‘entry shock’ and exit early from HE, which is a problem both globally and within the Irish context. The existing literature indicates that this crucial transition period may be enhanced by the availability of digital readiness/preparation tools, which actively socialise these students and scaffold them in their formation of a student identity.

1. Dr. James Brunton, Prof. Mark Brown, Dr. Eamon
Costello, Lorraine Delaney, Seamus Fox, Ciara Galvin
& Nuala Lonergan
National Institute for Digital Learning, Dublin City University
Overcoming ‘entry shock’ in flexible learners
entering higher education through the use of
effective socialisation/identity formation
supports

2. About the Project
What we set out to do…
• Enhance success of flexible learners
• Undertake synthesis of literature
• Undertake an institutional audit
• Develop eight digital readiness tools

3. studentsuccess.ie
@FLSuccess

5. The Toolbox

6. Am I Ready for Study?

7. Am I Ready for Study?

8. Am I Ready for Study?

9. Am I Ready for Study?

10. How Much Work is it?

11. How Much Work is it?

12. How Much Work is it?

13. How Much Work is it?

14. Who Can I Ask?

15. My Computer Skills

16. My First Assignment

17. Study Tips For Me

18. Online Orientation

19. Get Ready for Success

20. 1. For individual learners
2. Institutional impact (strategic
approach to study lifecycle)
3. National improvement in
flexible learner completion
rates
4. Three National Dissemination
Workshops
National Impact

21. • Evaluation Framework (IEF) for
teaching and learning projects*
–Reach (generation and dissemination of
project outputs).
–Impact on teaching practice
–Impact on learners
–Impact on the project teams themselves
*Weir, K. (2014). Enhancing tertiary teaching and learning through Ako Aotearoa-funded project work: Part 1. Collated
results of Impact Evaluation Framework conversations about National Project Fund projects completed from November
2009 to November 2013. Wellington: Ako Aotearoa
Evaluation

22. Conclusion
• Review of literature
• Institutional audit
• Eight digital readiness tools
• Follow up research studies
Successfully completed…
Future Activities...

23. Student Success Toolbox Project Team
Dr James Brunton (DCU), Prof Mark Brown (DCU), Ann Cleary (DKIT), Dr Eamon Costello (DCU),
Lorraine Delaney (DCU), Seamus Fox (DCU), Jennifer Gilligan (IT Sligo), Brian Mulligan (IT Sligo),
Lisa O’Regan (MU), Jamie Ward (DKIT)