Supporting Student Transition in Years 1 and 2 in the Faculty of Health
Several years ago, a group of Faculty of Health instructors led by Dr. Susan Murtha began working to create an option for students to take 3- or 6-credit “outside major” courses in their first year to support student transition into university.
These courses, originally called “PAT” courses (Pedagogy that Aids Transition), would include the five features of transition pedagogy, grounded in Lizzio’s (2006) five senses of student success, and aligned with the Becoming YU Competency Skills for Personal, Academic, and Professional success.
In Fall 2021, the Faculty of Health began offering first-year “PAT” courses designed to include the five attributes of transition pedagogy: teamwork, self-reflection, self-regulation, scaffolded learning with timely feedback, and making connections to the real world.
Project PATHS
Supporting Student Transition across York University
In April 2021, Project PATHS received funding from York University Academic Innovation Fund (AIF) to create a toolbox of resources to support instructors to include the five attributes of transition pedagogy in their courses.
The development of the PATHS toolbox is the result of collaboration between many partners and stakeholders across York University, including valuable support and guidance from the Faculty of Health, the Teaching Commons, and our project advisory committees.
Looking Ahead
Expanding our Approach to Transition to include Years 3 and 4
In Summer 2022, Project PATHS will partner with Envision YU to expand our toolbox to include curricular resources to support students in the 3rd and 4th years. These expanded resources will prepare students to transition out of their degrees, strengthen their ability to critically reflect on the ways their courses are developing their skills and interests, identify and explore connections of interest between what they are learning inside the classroom with the wider world, and develop leadership skills and the ability to create and initiate opportunities to develop their skills and experiences through community-focused activities and projects.
By approaching student transition as a continuum throughout Year 1 to Year 4, our goal is to equip students with skills, abilities, and experiences to succeed during and after university as well as realize the value and relevancy of their courses to themselves and the wider community.
PATHS Project Advisory Committees
PATHS Student Advisory Committee
Kalena Adames, School of Health Policy and Management
Prisha Agrawa, School of Kinesiology and Health Science
Sina Karimi Chahartash, Kinesiology and Health Science
Jolie Conliffe, Dept. of Psychology
Kristen Ellacot, School of Nursing
Hope Eruabor, School of Health Policy and Management
Kevin Loniewski, School of Nursing
Jama Maxie, Dept. of Psychology
Sarah M’Cardell, School of Global Health
Essete Makonnen Tesfaye, School of Global Health
PATHS Faculty & Staff Key Informants
Stephanie Bowerman, Assistant Professor Kinesiology and Health Science
Paola Calderon-Valdivia, Experiential Education Coordinator, Faculty of Health
Julie Conder, Assistant Professor Psychology
Monique Herbert, Associate Professor Psychology
Heather Jenkin, Sessional Associate Professor Psychology, SRC
Larkin Lamarche, Assistant Professor Kinesiology and Health Science
Susan J.E. Murtha, Associate Dean, Learning, Teaching, Academic Programs, Faculty of Health
Anda Petro, Experiential Education Coordinator, Faculty of Health
Robin Sutherland-Harris, Educational Developer, Teaching Commons
PATHS Project Steering Committee
Alexis Blair-Hamilton, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Yasaman Delaviz, Educational Developer Faculty of Health
Kathleen Fortune, Assistant Professor Psychology
Azeezah Jafry, Graduate Research Assistant
Brian Nairn, Educational Developer Teaching Commons
Karin Page-Cutrara, Associate Professor Nursing
Nicolette Richardson, Associate Professor Kinesiology
Martyna Siekanowicz, Project Manager
Lynda van Dreumel, Assistant Professor School of Health and Policy Management