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Frequent Asked Questions

In Practice

Q: Do students need to be enrolled at SHU before accessing the pre-arrival content?

A: Yes, students need to be enrolled. New students receive an invitation to enrol approximately one month before their course starts (Enrolment FAQs). Once they have enrolled online, they will then be able to access BlackBoard other online SHU resources. 

Q: Does the model take into account the different needs of A level and BTEC students? 

A: We're looking into this for you and we'll update this section as soon as possible.

Q: Is the Transition Model different to the HSE?

A: It is part of the HSE. The 3 components of Highly-Skilled Employment are Applied Learning, Career Readiness and Digital Skills.  The Model reflects each of these.

Q: What about other transition points: 4-5, 5-6, 6-7? Could this be an extension of the module in future?

A:There are plans afoot to use the same framework – Orientate, Apply & Connect – to design a transition approach between academic levels.  The Orientate theme would be the workplace experience that the student has undertaken that academic year e.g. L4 live project and how they would apply their learning from it to the next year’s workplace experience.  In this case 120 hours (L5)

Q: We have over 20 courses in our department there is no resource or work plan allowance available to create these pre-arrival materials, so we cannot ask our Cls to create these, would a single department pre-arrival site work?

A:Yes, the theme in Orientate could be a generic one that is common to all 20 courses

Q: How is this being evaluated in terms of student engagement?

A:Please follow the link to see the evaluation that has been carried out

Q: How does curriculum development work with our PRSB.

A: Response: As there are so many variants in involvement of PSRBs; it is suggested that you contact the relevant PSRB

Q: Should we commence this initiative initially at a Departmental level or Subject Group?

A: A generic theme could be used across the Department e.g.Business .  The subject group would allow the theme in Orientate to be more specific e.g. Marketing.

Q: Is this just for course leaders or did the model ask the group or course teaching TEAMs to develop

A:The idea is that the course team develop it together, but that’s a local decision.

Q: What should I say in the Orientate Video?

A: This section is a Ted-esq Talk that introduces your learners to a subject specific topic/theme from your discipline area. Consider a subject or theme that may challenge your student's preconceptions of the course, or challenges their values or consider an issue students typically struggle with at level 4. See our Orientate briefing document for tips on how to structure your talk. 

Technical

Q: Can we create multiple editors who can develop the sites?

A: Yes, once a guest blackboard site is created there is a function available that can allow multiple instructors. Instructors are able to add and make amendments to the site, as well as monitor student engagement.  

Q: If the model is for pre-arrival, when would students have access to Blackboard? What Blackboard site should a course leader use to deploy all of this?

A: Pre-arrival students won't have access to the Blackboard site that they will use during their time at SHU. The Pre-arrival Transition Model is hosted on a guest Blackboard course site, students are sent a link to the site from the academic administrator, they can then create a unique login to access the site before they arrive at the university. 

Q: If a student has a question about a task, is there an option for them to get in touch and ask?

A: Yes, academics can add their email addresses to the Blackboard site, if they wish, so students can contact them directly with any questions surrounding tasks.

Q: Who will deal with technical issues if students get stuck or can't log on?

A: We're looking into this for you and we'll update this section as soon as possible.

Q: Will student engagement be monitored?

A: Yes, student engagement can be monitored if courses wish to do so; there is function available on Blackboard course sites that allow instructors to see individual users that have accessed the site and the sections of the site that they entered. This data is accessible via the left hand navigation pane – Course Management – Evaluation – Course Reports)

Q: Does this have to be on blackboard can it be used on pebblepad?

A: We recommend the BlackBoard Coursesites platform is used for the pre-arrival sites, as this is a proven platform and one similar to the BlackBoard platform that students use whilst studying at Sheffield Hallam. However, some courses do also use Pebblepad and if this is a more convenient platform for course teams to use then it is another option available.

Q: The video and audio transcription is important for accessibility. Is there a university service or piece of software academics can use to do this automatically?

A: The University is currently looking into purchasing accessibility software to assist staff in transcribing. As an alternative, when videos are uploaded to YouTube, the platform usually adds subtitles automatically, which can be downloaded. Please see this guide for more information.  You can find more information and support on the SHU Web Accessibility SharePoint site. 

Q: How long does it typical take to produce what looks like fairly polished course packages? What are the time scales to get this done?

A: Typically this will take around 7 - 10 hours, this time includes setting up the site, and populating it with content;  taking in to account the time taken to film, cut and edit both the orientate and connect videos.

General questions

Q: How will your pre-arrival and welcome guidance fit in with the Hallam Welcome Framework?

A: Throughout the design of the Transition model (both pre-arrival and welcome week) we have kept in mind the guidance offered by the Hallam Welcome Framework, considering the key principles such as 'Preparing students for study and being independent' and Creating a sense of belonging'. 

For the course areas that are adopting the pre-arrival model, the Hallam Welcome module will include Blackboard site links in the learners timetable.

Q: Can the Transition Model be used by international students?

A: Yes, colleagues in the business school are using the pre-arrrival transition model to help prepare their students from China and India.

Q:  Will engaging with students before enrolment mean that we need to have all the student support mechanisms in place including student support officers?

A: We're looking into this for you and we'll update this section as soon as possible.

Q: Would it be possible to encourage students to network with each other before they arrive at Uni..? Can students collaborate with each other via the BB site pre-arrival -to get to know one-another?

A: This isn't a function that we have enabled on the Transition Model Pre-arrival site so far, we felt that if we opened a discussion board it would need to be monitored for ethical reasons.

Q: What happens to poor students who have no access to IT before they get to SHU?

A: We're looking into this for you and we'll update this section as soon as possible.

Q: Which industry professionals can we invite to take part in the filming of the connect section? 

A: It's useful to invite an Industry Professional/s who can discuss how the topic/theme and/or 'apply' section task manifest in their professional practice in a real world contexts .Current students who are on placement or Alumni are also great examples so they can talk about their own experiences of the course and how they are currently applying it within their careers. 

Q: Do the Venture Matrix team deliver the Welcome Week activity? 

A: The Venture Matrix team are able to support with the planning, preparation and logistics involved with Welcome Week activities, however academic staff are responsible for delivering the activities.