Headstrong: An online ACT-based program for first year, first

Headstrong Online Program
Dr Nancey Hoare, USQ School of Psychology and Counselling
Belinda Cameron, USQ Marketing and Student Attraction
The First in Family Project (Phase 2) is funded through the Commonwealth Government's Higher
Education Participation and Partnership Program (HEPPP) in 2016, to improve the access, participation
and success of students from communities under-represented in higher education.
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Project Team
Dr Nancey Hoare
Rebecca McSwiney
Nikki White
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Belinda Cameron
Jessica Thornton
Clare Sanders
Collaboration
USQ Online Marketing
+
USQ School of Psychology and Counselling
=
Shared vision
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Collaboration
Headstrong Online Program
What is First in Family (FiF)?
The first person in one’s immediate family
to attend university
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Did you know?
51%
of Australian university students identify as FiF
OECD. (2012). Education at a glance 2012: OECD indicators. OECD Publishing
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In Australia, 26% of FiF students
consider leaving university within their first
year of study …
34% for later year students …
Source: Coates, H., & Ransom, L. (2011). Dropout DNA, and the genetics of effective support.
AUSSE Research Briefings, Volume 11, (1-16).
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At USQ
Source: Higher Education Information Management Systems (HEIMS) data,
Department of Education and Training
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Phase 1, 2015
FiF market research …
• Market research report, including environmental scanning
• 21 focus groups
• 15 semi-structured, recorded interviews
• 2 on-campus school-leaver events
• 2 webinars
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Common themes emerged
• University processes
• Family and friends
• Self-confidence and resilience
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Phase 2, 2016
• Creation and dissemination of microsite www.firsttouni.com.au
• Design of 30 online resources drafted in 2015
• Landing page on USQ website for current FiF students
• Headstrong online program (current students)
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Headstrong Online Program
•
•
•
8 August - 2 September
FiF, first year, undergraduate USQ current domestic students
Enhancing students’ first year transition to university, ultimately
assisting to increase retention
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Headstrong online program
Delivered via:
•
•
USQ Moodle Site
Closed Facebook group
Content adapted from the 'ACT Now’ manual written by Joseph Ciarrochi
John Blackledge, Linda Bilich, Danielle Feros, and Lisbeth Lane, with
permission from Joseph Ciarrochi. THANK YOU!
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Headstrong online program
6 self-paced online modules:
https://open.usq.edu.au/course/view.php?id=244
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Current Students
To support FiF current students, a page on USQ Social Hub
was created, social.usq.edu.au/fif.
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Headstrong Participation Rates

71 registered and completed the Baseline
Survey

60 enrolments in Headstrong (85%
conversion)

59 (98%) students engaged with the
Headstrong materials

37 completed the Follow-up survey (47.9%
attrition rate)
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Baseline Survey Demographics
(N=71)







Gender: Male = 13, Female = 58


Receiving Centrelink = 39


Prior mindfulness training = 10
Age: Range 17-55 (M=32, SD=10)
Relationship Status: Partnered = 41
Dependent children: 1 or more = 38
Cultural background: Indigenous = 2, NESB = 14
Study Mode: ONC=33, ONL=16, EXT=14, Comb=8
Employment: 42 working, range 5-55 hrs/wk (M=23, SD=14,
N=38)
Net f/n household income: <$1000 = 28; between $1000
and $2000 = 29, >$2000 = 14
Current mindfulness practice = 7
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Baseline Survey Summary
(N=71)
Variables
Sense of Capability
Sense of Purpose
Sense of Resourcefulness
Sense of Connection
Sense of Identity
M
SD
Min
Max
18.42
23.00
19.14
27.86
10.86
3.45
3.29
3.30
3.81
1.79
8
15
12
20
6
29
30
27
41
15
Poss Range
6-30
6-30
6-30
9-45
3-15
Satisfaction and Engagement
11.58
1.55
8
15
3-15
Resilience
Stress Competency
Stress Vulnerability
Psychological Inflexibility
Committed Action
Self-Efficacy
Career Adaptability
17.37
16.25
25.73
26.65
70.83
28.48
82.65
5.60
2.60
4.59
9.88
11.75
4.99
15.62
6
11
16
7
46
16
49
27
23
35
47
95
38
117
6-30
5-25
7-35
7-49
18-108
10-40
24-120
Paired-Sample T-Tests (N=37)
Variable
Psychological Flexibility
Committed Action
Resilience
Stress Vulnerability
Stress Competency
Self-Efficacy
Career Adaptability Total
Career Concern
Career Control
Career Curiosity
Career Confidence
Five Senses of Success at University:
Sense of Capability
Sense of Purpose
Sense of Resourcefulness
Sense of Connection
Sense of Identity
Satisfaction & Engagement at uni
T1 Mean
29.36
73.27
18.15
25.67
16.39
28.7
84.52
21.09
21.61
21.27
20.55
T2 Mean
33.73
75.15
20.24
23.61
17.61
30.39
89.45
21.79
22.97
21.91
22.79
18.3
23.67
19.64
28.27
10.97
11.94
18.97
24.18
20.03
29.21
11.33
11.85
MDiff
4.37***
1.88
2.09*
-2.06**
1.22*
1.69*
4.93
0.7
1.36
0.64
2.24*
0.67
0.51
0.39
0.94
0.36
-0.09
%Diff
15%
3%
12%
8%
7%
6%
6%
3%
6%
3%
11%
4%
2%
2%
3%
3%
1%
Qualitative feedback - forums
Headstrong online forums have provided a great place for
students to connect.
Examples of feedback received on the forums:
“I think it’s excellent that the university is
providing this type of course for first year students and
first in family. University is daunting, even for mature age
students who may have some of these skills in their toolkit
already.”
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Qualitative feedback - forums
“The information provided has helped me already begin to
filter through some doubts and help me clarify the
expectations of myself.”
“Already I have found I have changed my actions,
and made different decisions based on the first module. Very
interesting to have these things analysed, gives a deeper
understanding.”
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Qualitative feedback - forums
“… I've found it very easy to navigate through this program. The
Youtube clips of actual real life USQ students from a
broad range of backgrounds and ages has been helpful
as it helps me to relate to everyone’s situations and feel
that I am not the only person on this planet that
experiences what and how I'm feeling. There are some
very useful and realistic tactics and ways to get through situations
so I'm very grateful for this program.”
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Qualitative feedback - forums
“Well done for creating this program.
I think it is very
beneficial, encouraging and
motivating.”
“Reading that gave me goosebumps. This module has
been fantastic for me, I wish I had these
strategies in my tool belt about 10 years ago.”
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Qualitative feedback - forums
“… the couple of hours invested in Module One has already
had a positive impact on realigning why I am here and reenergizing my efforts, right when they were at risk.
The videos that include actual graduated students talking
about their lived experience are truly helpful. I imagine that
there are a lot of elements to this course that would be
beneficial to others students that are not first
in family, particularly mature-aged and
working students (such as myself).”
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Closed Facebook group
Interaction on the Headstrong Closed Facebook group has also been fantastic.
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Closed Facebook group
“I am so proud to be first in family to attend University.
Growing up in my family no emphasis was put on education
and we grew up accepting that dead end jobs are good
enough. Well... not being one to ever listen to the
parents...lol.. I have broken the mould! And am so proud
of my son who is following in my footsteps and is here at USQ
too! He never would have if I didn't bust a move. 😄”
“It's (Headstrong) helped me to … create new support
networks on avenues I wouldn't normally engage in.”
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Closed Facebook group
“Thank you Headstrong for giving me a new view
and strategies to help me evolve!”
“I am proud as I was the first to graduate year 12
and now tackling University.”
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Closed Facebook group
“… headstrong program has given me insights
into my thinking patterns and given me strategies
to overcome negative thoughts to succeed.”
“… pushing through adversity to accomplish my
life goals.”
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Feedback Survey
• Evaluation of the complete program
• N = 28 (completion rate 39.44%)
• Relevance
• Usefulness
• Ease of application to everyday life
• Most helpful module
• Recommendation to others
• Open-ended questions
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Usefulness of each module
20
18
No of respondents
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
Module No
Moderately useful
Very useful
Extremely useful
6
Ease of practice in everyday life
18
16
No of respondents
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
Module No
Difficult
Neither difficult nor easy
Easy
Very easy
6
Most helpful module
Feedback Survey
The difficulties I encountered came more from making
the time to put the modules into practice than from
the modules themselves.
The timing of the course could have been a little better
co-ordinated as by the time the course had started I was
busy spending more time on writing assignments and
working on other assessments. Also it would be great if the
course material is open a little longer than the 5 weeks so
people had more of an opportunity to catch up and
thoroughly go over the course then rushing through the
readings.
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Feedback Survey
The difficulties I had was fitting it in with all my studies,
assignments, prac, work and my family.
The course need to be spend over more time.
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Feedback Survey
“I have never had a great interest in mindful behaviour or
meditation however this module gave me a different insight and
I enjoyed what I learned in this module and believe that I can
implement more of this in my everyday life.”
I really enjoyed the values section; I think it was a great
reflective exercise which has helped guide me through a few
important decisions I've had to make recently and I think I
will continue to use these in future to help evaluate
options and guide me.
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Feedback Survey
Continually relating my values and beliefs to my goals - really
helps keep me on track through difficult times when study just
seems 'too much'.
An excellent program that I am very glad I participated
in. Big thank you to all the staff who worked tirelessly
to give all of us students such a great experience.
Thanks.
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Feedback Survey
It was a good way to gain skills applicable to university
and outside life, as being a first in family student presents
many challenges that you family and friends may not be able to
understand.
As a first in family at uni and a mother to four children, two of
whom are disabled, this is a skill I now use daily.
Thankyou!
I would recommend it to everyone, including
students. It's a valuable experience that I would expect
everyone to get something out of.
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Q&A
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