Building a sturdy foundation – creating an engaging first year course that prepares a diverse student demographic for an undergraduate Built Environment programme.

As universities accept a broader student demographic and deviate from face-to-face instruction to access and venture into the virtual world, foundation courses become increasingly important. These courses need to follow adult learning principles and provide supportive frameworks, containing formative assessment and prompt feedback. Scaffolding and support increases student confidence which benefits academic progression, providing a sturdy foundation on which to build other courses. A study, conducted by CQUniversity Australia (CQUni), of students enrolled in a Built Environment foundation course found a reduction in students’ apprehension when studying in distance education (DE), specifically with regards to resources. Students felt more confident in tackling other courses within their programmes and feedback was considered beneficial to their studies, especially as the majority was provided within one week. The study further found that online virtual classrooms stimulate student interaction with other students as well as with staff, increasing their sense of belonging and collegiality.