Reviewing and optimising the impact of self-selecting Learning Development provision on level 6 undergraduates

Engagement with Learning Development (LD) interventions has been found to have a positive impact on students’ academic success, including higher attainment (Nzekwe-Excel, 2014; Coulson, Loddick and Rice, 2021), development of self-regulated learning strategies (Lobos et al., 2021), and increased confidence (Coulson, Loddick and Rice, 2021). Such interventions were shown to positively influence retention for students ‘at-risk’ (Berry, Mac An Bhaird and O'Shea, 2005). In an analysis of student success strategies at 64 US institutions, monitoring usage of academic support services has been rated as 90% effective in supporting ‘student success, retention and completion’ (RNL, 2023). The Learning Services (LS) team at De Montfort University provides a range of self-selecting LD opportunities (workshops, tutorials, and drop-ins) to all students. This presentation shared the findings of a project aimed to review the impact of this provision on level 6 undergraduates. Level 6 students have been selected as the target population based on their high usage of LS provision (approx. 41% in 2022/23), but also because of the higher weighting of level 6 grades in overall degree classification (DMU, 2023). Using a range of data for the academic year 23/24, the project explored the following questions: • Is there a relationship between attendance at LS self-selecting sessions and student attainment?• What type of one-to-one interventions (tutorials/drop-ins) and delivery modes (online/in-person) had the most usage, and which self-selecting workshop topics had the highest attendance rates by level 6 undergraduates? • How can these findings be used to optimise LD support for level 6 undergraduates? As an outcome of this project, a range of targeted strategies and resources were developed for optimising the self-selecting LD offer for the target student group. Attendees were invited to feedback on these and consider whether they can be applied to their own context.