Providing students with an easystart to higher education: The emerging role of digital technologies to facilitate students' transitions

Hamshire, Claire; Cullen, W. Rod

Abstract

The transition to higher education can be problematic for some students as they adapt to institutional procedures and degree level working at the same time as developing new social networks. To help facilitate these complex transitions institutions are increasingly turning towards digital technologies to provide both flexible access to resources and improved communication. This paper outlines the key issues associated with students' initial transitions to higher education and explores the challenges faced by academics designing induction procedures and programmes. The emerging role of digital technologies in supporting students' transitions into Higher Education, against the backdrop of a changing digital landscape in one institution is discussed and an evaluation of the easystart induction programme at Manchester Metropolitan University presented as a case study.

Citation

Hamshire, C., & Cullen, W. R. (2014). Providing students with an easystart to higher education: The emerging role of digital technologies to facilitate students' transitions. International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments, 5(1), https://doi.org/10.4018/ijvple.2014010105

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2014
• Deposit Date: May 29, 2024
• Journal: International Journal of Virtual and Personal Learning Environments
• Print ISSN: 1947-8518
• Publisher: IGI Global
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/ijvple.2014010105