All Outputs (25)

Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning (2022)
Presentation / Conference
Fabian, K., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Meharg, D. (2022, September). Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning. Paper presented at Association for Learning Technology Annual Conference, Manchester

Moore’s (1993) transactional distance theory recognises that communications and psychological distance between learner and teacher are affected by course structure, dialogue between lecturers and students, and learner’s autonomy. These factors affect... Read More about Transactional distance in the context of online and blended learning.

COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape (2022)
Conference Proceeding
Siegel, A. A., Zarb, M., Anderson, E., Crane, B., Gao, A., Latulipe, C., …Meharg, D. (2022). COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape. In ITiCSE '22: Proceedings of the 27th ACM Conference on on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (574–575). https://doi.org/10.1145/3502717.3532167

Students have experienced incredible shifts in the in their learning environments, brought about by the response of universities to the ever-changing public health mandates driven by waves and stages of the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). Initially,... Read More about COVID-19, Students and the New Educational Landscape.

'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience (2022)
Thesis
Meharg, D. 'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience. (Thesis). Edinburgh Napier University. Retrieved from http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2951063

Higher education has seen huge growth in the past two decades with degree study becoming an anticipated next step after high school. But access to higher education is still riddled with inequality, and society is calling for equal access for all. The... Read More about 'A journey that motivates': Discovering the associate student experience.

Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19 (2022)
Journal Article
Fabian, K., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Meharg, D. (2022). Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19. British Journal of Educational Technology, 53(6), 1915-1936. h

The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted education across the world as campuses closed to restrict the spread of the virus. UK universities swiftly migrated to online delivery. The experiences of students and staff during this transition can inform our return... Read More about Identifying factors influencing study skills engagement and participation for online learners in higher education during Covid-19.

A journey that motivates: Exploring the Associate Students Transition Framework (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2021). A journey that motivates: Exploring the Associate Students Transition Framework. In 2021 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE49875.2021.9637158

This research to practice full paper presents empirical work exploring the transition experiences of transfer students into computing degrees in Scotland. Students on this journey face transitional barriers as they adapt to the change in culture, com... Read More about A journey that motivates: Exploring the Associate Students Transition Framework.

Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., & Khristin, F. (2021, March). Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees. Presented at Advance HE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2021, Online

Apprenticeship Degrees provide opportunities to study for a degree without incurring debt. Collaborations between employers and HEIs enable new or established employees to earn while they learn, with their fees paid. This facilitates people to study... Read More about Earn as you learn: Widening participation through apprenticeships as debt-free degrees.

Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education (2021)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., Fabian, K., & Varey, A. (2021, March). Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education. Presented at Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2021, Online

The Associate Student (ASP) project supports Computing students who study two years at a Further Education college (achieving an HND) then transfer directly into third year, studying for two more years to complete an honours degree (BSc or BEng). Stu... Read More about Associate Student Project: Facilitating computing students’ transition to higher education.

An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study (2021)
Journal Article
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2022). An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study. Studies in Higher Education, 47(7), 1397-1409. https://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2021.1897094

Degree apprenticeships have recently been introduced in the UK, representing a significant shift in approaches to degree-level study: from traditional models of higher education to workplaces as locations for learning. As the model matures it is impo... Read More about An exploration of degree apprentice perspectives: A Q methodology study.

Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019). Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education. In UKICER: Proceedings of the 1st UK & Ireland Computing Education Research Conference. https://doi.org/10.1145/3351287.3351298

Students who progress to higher education from further education colleges are faced with academic, social, and logistical challenges during their transition. In general, they find university life more challenging compared to students who have been at... Read More about Facilitating computing students' transition to higher education.

Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer? (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Taylor-Smith, E., Smith, S., Fabian, K., Berg, T., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2019). Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?. In ITiCSE '19 Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Com

This paper describes a study investigating whether apprenticeship computing degrees in Scotland are attracting additional entrants who will become IT professionals and fill a skills need. Government policy reports, from around the world, set out plan... Read More about Bridging the Digital Skills Gap: Are computing degree apprenticeships the answer?.

"So far back, I'm anonymous": Exploring Student Identity using Photovoice (2019)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Cairncross, S., & Varey, A. (2019). "So far back, I'm anonymous": Exploring Student Identity using Photovoice. In 2018 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). https://doi.org/10.1109/FIE.2018.8658441

This Research Full paper presents empirical work focused on the transition experiences of transfer students into computing degrees in Scotland and seeks to understand the complex formation of identity from the student perspective. Drawing on [3]'s wo... Read More about "So far back, I'm anonymous": Exploring Student Identity using Photovoice.

Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Fabian, K., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., & Varey, A. (2018, December). Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students. Paper presented at The Changing Shape of Higher Education: Can excellence and inclusion cohabit?, Newport, UK

Previous studies have shown that students who transfer into university from college (direct entrants) face several challenges when they enter university. In response, the Associate Student Project supports students who enter university directly into... Read More about Enhancing learning confidence for direct entry computing students.

"We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2018). "We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition. In SRHE Newer and Early Career Conference 2018 Proceedings

This study presents empirical work examining the student journey from further to higher education in computing degrees in Scotland and seeks to understand the complex formation of identity, from the student perspective, during transition. In Scotlan... Read More about "We're coming from different worlds" : exploring student identity during transition.

STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices (2018)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Smith, S., Taylor-Smith, E., Meharg, D., Smith, C., & Varey, A. (2018, June). STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices. Paper presented at Horizons in STEM Higher Education, Hull

Using the Apprenticeship Levy, England piloted Degree Apprenticeships in 2014 and Scotland followed with Graduate Apprenticeships in 2017. In Scotland, the apprenticeships are determined by employer demand for skills and delivered by universities. Gr... Read More about STEM Apprenticeship Degrees: Motivations and aspirations of apprentices.

Transitioning cohorts: A comparative study of best practice in supporting direct entrant students to make a successful transition from FE college to advanced years in university (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Marr, S. (2017, July). Transitioning cohorts: A comparative study of best practice in supporting direct entrant students to make a successful transition from FE college to advanced years in university. Presented at HEA Annual Conference 2017

No abstract available.

A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice (2017)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Marr, S., & Meharg, D. (2017). A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice.

This study shares the findings of a comparative case study, examining support for students transitioning from further education institutes (FEIs) to advanced entry in university. This case study compares transition support in two different subject ar... Read More about A Comparative Study of Transitional Support: Identifying Best Practice.

Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries (2017)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Craighill, S., Varey, A., & Cairncross, S. (2017). Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries. Scottish Educational Review, 49(1), 89-103

This paper applies Whitchurch’s (2008) concept of the ‘third space’ to the emergent territory occupied by further education college students as they ‘cross the boundary’ to continue their studies at the university. Findings reveal that these transiti... Read More about Belonging: Blurring the Boundaries.

An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation? (2017)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Taylor-Smith, E., Varey, A., Mooney, C., & Dallas, S. (2017). An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation?. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 5(2), 85-92. https://doi.org/10.14297/jpaap.v5i2.269

This study explores student transitions from further (FE) to higher (HE) education through the Associate Student Project (ASP) and examines the effectiveness of this enhanced transition programme for direct entry students. Universities are expected t... Read More about An Enhanced Route from FE to HE Graduation?.

'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition (2016)
Journal Article
Meharg, D., Craighill, S., Varey, A., & Tizard, J. (2016). 'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition. Education in the North, 23(2), 128-140

This paper employs the ‘Expectancy-Value Model of Achievement Motivation’ (Wigfield and Eccles, 2000) to identify performance barriers and facilitators for further education students continuing their studies at university. Using this model to unders... Read More about 'I hope we can handle it': A study examining student ability beliefs and motivations before transition.

Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university (2016)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Meharg, D., & Fotheringham, J. (2016). Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university. In Equality and diversity in learning and teaching in higher education : Papers from Equality Challenge Unit and Higher Education Ac

Widening participation in higher education continues to be a key focus for Scottish government and the 2013 Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act places obligations upon Universities to achieve progress in this regard. The Act also makes provision for Add... Read More about Partnership and preparation: a new model of transition from college to university.