How are we doing?

Over the past year we’ve surveyed 100 students who attended 1-to-1 Study Development tutorials, and 99 said they would recommend the service to others. Students were selected at random and handed a short form to fill in after their tutorial, to deposit anonymously into a feedback box. Responses were overwhelmingly positive, with students rating the usefulness of their session at 8.85/10 on average, and commenting on how knowledgeable, supportive and friendly the tutor was. In 2014-15 the Study Development team delivered 353 tutorials to students from all faculties; around half of them self-referred, a quarter were signposted by academic tutors, and a quarter referred by disability advisers and the Wellbeing team. Typical issues covered in Study Development tutorials are: critical thinking, essay planning and structuring, time management, grammar and punctuation, reflective writing, incorporating sources and evidence effectively, and how to act on feedback from tutors. Students can access up to 6 tutorials per year, and many come back for follow-ups. Our next challenge is finding a reliable way of evaluating the impact of sessions beyond students’ self-reports. Any ideas?