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Experiences supporting Open University apprenticeship students: A case study

This research case study focuses on the Open University's Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Apprenticeship, examining the need for a different support strategy for Degree Apprenticeship students in England and Wales, and Graduate Apprenticeship students in Scotland. The study explores issues faced by apprentices and their support from tutors and employers, as well as the relevance of assessment and work-based learning.

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Experiences supporting Open University apprenticeship students: A case study

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  1. Experiences supporting Open University apprenticeship students: A case study Focus is on the OU’s Digital and Technology Solutions Professional Apprenticeship Soraya KouadriMostéfaoui(TT284 Chair) Christine Gardner (Staff Tutor, TMXY130 Chair)

  2. Rationale This research seeks to address the fundamental question as to whether Degree Apprenticeship students in England and Wales, and Graduate Apprenticeship students in Scotland, need a different support strategy by identifying current issues that they may face during their apprenticeship journey.

  3. Programme – Computing & Communications (England) Practice Tutor Academic Tutors

  4. Academic model for the OU apprenticeship Programme

  5. Research questions • Apprentice tuition support • Support from subject-specific tutors • Support from practice tutors • Apprentice employer support • How the OU can/should work alongside employers to improve support • Apprentice assessment • Work-based assessment (relevant to the students’ work place)

  6. Students’ Perspective • Online survey (17/18 -18/19 start) – low response rate 12 students • 75% have never studied online or at distance; • 81.5% satisfied with the support from module tutors; • 87.5% satisfied with the support from the practice tutors; • 94% satisfied with the support from their employers for their DA studies • 87.5% satisfied with the support from the Open University

  7. Students’ Perspective • 87.5% the assessment relates well to the module content of TMXY130 • 87.5%the assessment relates well to the module content of TXY122 • 69% TXY122 ‘Career development and employability’ is relevant to their current job role • 87.5%TMXY130 ‘Computing Technologies’ is relevant to their current job role

  8. Student perspectives…module feedback (17/18) Student experience data for module TMXY130 ‘Computing Technologies’ was mainly positive overall with very good overall pass rate. I wasn’t as keen on the maths modules and often found the materials didn’t explain some of functions very well, perhaps more examples would be useful. Really interesting stuff.

  9. Student perspectives…module feedback (18/19) Again mainly positive , with very good overall pass rate. Very interesting module in which I have learnt a lot!. I felt that some of the maths information was not well explained in the material and I had to rely on the community to work it out together. But maybe that was the point? The amount of tutorials for this module far outweighed that of about module and I feel my results and marks reflect that.

  10. Tutor perspectives…practice tutors Student/tutor difficulties: Getting study time off from employer (government guidelines can be misleading) Difficulties with possible deferral Compiling an eportfolio – difficulties with OneFile Assignment dates can clash with other commitments Can be difficult for Practice Tutors to see whole student picture

  11. Tutor perspectives…module tutor • Some key points from TMXY130 debriefing: • Students generally higher standard and more motivated than previous modules. • Lots of questions from students early on. • Not much use of forums. • Interesting because more technical than previous modules • Needed to emphasise need for workings and presentation for some . • Better retention.

  12. Summary • Apprentice tuition support Support from subject-specific tutors is very good according to student feedback. Students are very motivated. • Apprentice employer support How the OU can/should work alongside employers to improve supportcan be gained via feedback from practice tutors, gives a wider overview of apprentice experiences. • Apprentice assessment Some assessment methods are more relevant than others.

  13. Next steps • Conduct further research via surveys and interviews, with both students and tutors. Initial cohort was very small. • Inclusion of Welsh and Scottish apprentices, alongside English apprentices, in the research. • Compare national perspectives. • Consider ideas around assessment relating more closely to the workplace.

  14. Questions

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