The proposal introduces a platform for an integrated, online student portfolio which is active both before and during the first study year. The main goal is to facilitate the transition from secondary to higher (university) education. Prior to the study, the platform offers modules with targeted information and exercises such that students can test and improve their quantitative skills. During the study, these modules take the form of prerequisite-modules that make the connections between courses and the coherency in the program explicit to new students. Students can indicate in the portfolio how they perceive the level of difficulty of module components and how interesting they find them. These value judgements and obtained results are analyzed. In this way, students can monitor their own progress and get more insights in their main interests and challenges. In case of low scores and judgements, the platform offers study support. For example, by advising students to contact a study advisor.
This project is executed by both teachers and students. The students play a decisive role in uncovering the main obstacles in the program when switching from secondary to higher education. They are stimulated to share their views and suggestions on the setup of the first study year. The project can be implemented in the Canvas learning environment, in which many available external tools will be used. At a later stage, the project can be extended to other study years and programs. The setup and evaluation of the project are made public on a website.