Toolkit for success: The Griffith Health suite of online student support resources. A Practice Report

Abstract

In the current higher education climate, never has it been more imperative to promote early and ongoing student success and retention. Transition theory suggests that taking a coherent, scalable and holistic approach to supporting the student learning experience is the best way to scaffold and enable early success and persistence. Utilising this pedagogical approach, Griffith Health has designed and implemented a range of innovative, online resources to support the needs of undergraduate and postgraduate students as they transition across the student lifecycle. This ‘toolkit for success’ includes school-specific orientation websites, a targeted writing and referencing online guide, and a ‘one-stop-shop’ resource where students can quickly and easily connect with all of the support services and resources available across the University. Analytics data show the support resources are being very well accessed and utilised, with staff and student feedback also highlighting their effectiveness and value.

Out of sight, but not out of mind: a case study of the collaborative development of a university-wide orientation resource for online students

“…Next, accessible descriptions of common challenges that many students experience during their studies including academic resilience, self-motivation, procrastination, perfectionism and burnout, are provided. Students can then review further information and suggestions for practical steps to help manage these challenges (Eaton et al, 2018 ). Lastly, this section addresses a unique challenge to online study—feelings of belonging in a student community, student support and advocacy 6 Graduation & beyond The final section of MOLH celebrates graduation and student alumni.…”

“…Lastly, this section addresses a unique challenge to online study—feelings of belonging in a student community, student support and advocacy 6 Graduation & beyond The final section of MOLH celebrates graduation and student alumni. This section provides links to assist students who are nearing completion, as well as forward planners and includes information on graduation, alumni, career planning, career connect and a range of online workshops to help with career planning (Eaton et al, 2018 ; Horvath et al, 2019 ) …”

Designing Effective Online Orientation Programs for First-Year University Students

“…Learners should have an overview of all modules and topics being covered and fully grasp the course structure. Sub-topics should also be evident to the learner from the homepage (Eaton et al, 2018;Janicki & Liegle, 2001). Finally, the system should prominently display information about a learner's progress in the course, making it easy to identify which activities have been completed and how much work is left to do (Cho et al, 2009).…”

“…Such reasons should spur them to enroll or access the program initially. Regular promotion of the program is crucial, and any promotional content should clearly convey the purpose and benefits of participation (Eaton et al, 2018;Gayed et al, 2018). Program marketing should be strategically planned and include repeated outreach to students, using varied outreach strategies (i.e., email, social media, call campaign, in-person promotion, etc.…”

“…Program marketing should be strategically planned and include repeated outreach to students, using varied outreach strategies (i.e., email, social media, call campaign, in-person promotion, etc. ), and modification of the messages contained within each outreach attempt (Eaton et al, 2018;Gayed et al, 2018). At Griffith University, where each faculty (i.e., college or school) had a separate orientation website for their students, the faculties who strategically planned repeated outreach to students to promote the site saw higher numbers of students accessing and engaging with the program than faculties whose outreach was limited (Eaton et al, 2018).…”