Somerset students from three schools in Bridgwater, Somerset participated in a two day residential event at Keele University on July 7th and 8th that was put together by Aimhigher and Keelelink in collaboration with Connect South West Ltd.
Students from Chilton Trinity, Robert Blake and East Bridgwater Schools experienced a taster of life at Keele University and shared their experience via Twitter at #aiming4more.
Students reflected on what they were learning on the taster and then shared that with others via twitter. Keele University’s #KeelelinkLeader twitter representatives (all Keele University students) were on hand over the two days to tweet in response to questions from the students on subjects ranging from tuition fees to accommodation, and course options to job prospects.
The value in using social media for an event like this is in community building, connecting young people who share similar interests and getting them to exchange ideas and thoughts in an engaging way that they are familiar with. The students were encouraged to share links and other information relevant to what they were learning on the taster using #aiming4more twitter feed.
Students started out at 7am from Bridgwater a little sleepy but full of excitement for the upcoming two days as university students. After four hours on the road they arrived at Keele University campus for registration and allocation into one of Keele’s many halls of residence. Checking out their temporary home for the night students expressed delight that the rooms were much nicer and bigger than they had expected.
Then it was off to class for two days of intensive course tasters. The students lapped up the sessions learning just how much variety of learning there is on offer on university courses. The students soon learnt about prominent female scientists, American High School culture, creative writing, astronomy, tsunamis, mind control and conditioning, and how to locate a dead body...!
Teaching staff from the schools commented on the two day taster saying: “[the] variety on the taster is great. It not only gives students the experience of university, it also gives them an idea of the choices available to them there...”
Marianne Parker (student) said: “The lectures are really interesting.”
“If that’s what most lecturers are like then I think it would be pretty fun coming to university” – Somerset student
Student Josh Taylor commented on his astronomy Stardome experience saying: “That was really good, I enjoyed that it is really different.” Georgina Preston also enjoyed the session saying: “I like the Stardome because that is an experience we don’t get to have very often.”
Students also tried out the Keele Campus restaurants much to their satisfaction commenting via Twitter - ‘...they are spoiling us with all this yummy food!’
“I liked the university life aspect... [and] all the food, all the eating!” – Liam Pouncy (student)
The overall aim of the Keele Taster Twitter event was to capture not just what the students were doing at Keele University, but also the way their thinking changed over the course of the two days - from the journey up on the coach to their final reflections as they travelled back:
“The money will be an issue but I think university is a good idea” – Ashley Simpson
“I don’t know what courses I wanna do yet, but I’m definitely considering going [to university]” - Jess Berry
“It would definitely be beneficial to come to university” – Charlie Dare
“I’m gonna go university – it’s cool” Josh Taylor
http://youtu.be/3ur6XmMdw4w