scholarly journals Supporting students' transition to higher education

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarina Perander ◽  
Monica Londen ◽  
Gunilla Holm

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate how a workshop can enhance first-year university students' understanding of their study strategies and self-regulated learning.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative content analysis was done of 190 reflective journals written by first-year university students.FindingsThe main findings confirmed that starting studies in higher education is challenging for many students. New insights were provided on how these challenges can be addressed, especially regarding self-regulated learning. Students perceived that they gained several insights from the workshop that they believed could benefit their studying and thereby enhance motivation.Practical implicationsThis study showed that even small measures promote both good study habits and specifically self-regulated learning skills. Interventions like the workshop described in this study ease first-year students' transition to the university and foster successful studies for all students.Originality/valueThis study contributes to research on supporting students' transition to higher education by investigating how students perceive early study skill interventions. It adds to a holistic perspective of students' challenges and coping strategies during their first semester in higher education.

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-129
Author(s):  
Linda Carol Algozzini ◽  
Valencia Lavon Gabay ◽  
Shannon D. Voyles ◽  
Kimberly Bessolo ◽  
Grady Batchelor

Purpose This case study reviews a group coaching and mentoring (GCM) change model and its significance in dissolving barriers and promoting equity in virtual learning environments. The purpose of this paper is to examine the model’s approach to shifting instructor mindsets to align with institutional core values and initiatives that best serve a twenty-first century adult learner. Design/methodology/approach The change model, grounded in GCM, metacognition, self-regulated learning, and community of practice theory, incorporates participatory action research design focusing on cycles of action, reflection, and evaluation. Findings This study illustrates the change model’s success in moving educators toward deeper understanding of self and individual student differences. It further showcases how professionals adapt and improve practices using self-regulated learning and metacognition to better serve the population they teach. Practical implications The GCM framework improved engagement. The design, while implemented in a higher education arena, is applicable to other entities seeking to bridge gaps using metacognition and self-regulated learning to become adaptable and inclusive. Originality/value The change model, recipient of one of this year’s Effective Practice Awards from the Online Learning Consortium (2017), is recognized for innovation and replicability in and beyond higher education.


Author(s):  
E.V. SYSOEVA ◽  

Statement of the problem. The article analyzes the philosophical-sociological and psychological-pedagogical literature on the problem of forming a universal self-development competence in the preparation of university students. The problem is the universal nature of the competence and the ambiguity of its interpretation and allocation of structural components. The purpose of the article is to clarify the definition of self-development competence among first-year university students from the standpoint of the existential approach (M.I. Rozhkov). The research methodology consists in the analysis and synthesis of normative legal acts, program documents in higher education, works of Russian and foreign researchers on the problem of students’ self-development. The result of the study is a more accurate definition of “self-development competence” among first-year university students within the framework of the existential approach, taking into account the identified age characteristics, the specifics of educational motivation and socio-psychological adaptation of students at the stage of transition from secondary to higher school. The revised concept interpretation of “self-development competence of first-year university students” and the identified structural components allow the teacher to timely determine the level and develop the ability of students to predict, according to the motivational-target, cognitive-prognostic, activity-reflexive components of the self-development competence with the modern requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education 3++, developed on the basis of professional standards and approved in 2017.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-356
Author(s):  
Cindy Olivier ◽  
Catherine Burton

PurposeThe transition from school to higher education is a complex process. Peer mentoring is often used by institutions to facilitate this process. The purpose of this research, which was conducted at a South African university, was to determine whether a peer mentoring programme, which involved a large number of students and a limited number of mentors, could successfully assist students to adapt to the academic and psychosocial demands of university life.Design/methodology/approachA sequential explanatory mixed method design was implemented. In the first phase, a questionnaire was used to collect data to establish participants' experience of the programme. The findings from the questionnaire were used to inform the qualitative phase, in which the participants' perceptions of the benefits of the mentor programme were further explored by means of group interviews. The qualitative data were analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis.FindingsThe results indicate that a structured peer mentoring programme, in which a mentor works with up to 70 mentees in a group setting, can be a useful tool to assist with students' transition to university. The research found that the peer mentoring programme contributed to the students' academic, social and personal integration into the higher education environment.Research limitations/implicationsThe perspectives of mentors and faculty were not included. No comparative study with students who did not participate in the programme was conducted.Practical implicationsThis research illustrates that it is possible to mentor large groups of disadvantaged and vulnerable students notwithstanding limited resources.Originality/valueIn contrast to the existing literature on peer mentoring in higher education, which focuses on one-on-one or small-group mentoring, this research suggests that peer mentoring of larger groups can also play an important role in assisting students to transition to higher education. The description of the programme and the benefits students derived from it offer other institutions with limited resources some ideas about how a peer mentoring programme can be implemented.


2019 ◽  
pp. 225-226
Author(s):  
Monika Kotowska-Lewińska

Yue Zhu, Wing Au, Greg Yates, University Students’ Self-control and Self-regulated Learning in a Blended Course (Samokontrola oraz automotywacja studentów uczących się z wykorzystaniem metod blended learning), „The Internet and Higher Education” 2016, vol. 30


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (12) ◽  
pp. 803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joselina Barbosa ◽  
Álvaro Silva ◽  
Maria Amélia Ferreira ◽  
Milton Severo

Introduction: The transition from secondary to higher education is a challenging and demanding period for medical students. The ability to manage study time effectively and to be a self-regulated learner is essential to cope with the exponential growth of knowledge in medical education. Thus, the purpose of our study was to measure self-regulated learning skills and self-study across secondary higher education transition and to explore its effect on academic burnout in the first year of medical school.Material and Methods: We collected data from 102 (43%) freshman medical students on self-regulated learning, academic achievement, and hours of self-study/week relative to last year of secondary school (at the beginning of academic year) and the first year of medical school (at the end of academic year). Burnout data was collected at the end of academic year.Results: Among the 102 participants, 12% were at risk of burnout. Self-directedness at secondary school and higher education, and strategies for learning and assessment at higher education were protective factors against academic burnout. However, secondary selfdirectedness has an indirect effect on academic burnout mediated by self-directedness in the first year of medical school. In addition, self-study during class period was a risk factor for burnout.Conclusion: Our results support the premise that students experience mental health problems from an early stage at medical school. Empowering medical students to develop strategies for learning assessment and self-direction will help them manage their learning and, consequently, promote their well-being. Finally, we found that it is not academic performance that influences burnout but the time dedicated to study.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Ruixuan Ji ◽  
Xiaoyao Yue ◽  
Xu Zheng

Many research indicated that more and more students choose to drop out of mathematics-related subjects during university study, especially in the western context. Besides the difficulty of mathematics content, first-year university students also face issues of the transition period. Identifying the impact of first-year university students' belief factors on their persistence in mathematics study needed further research. This study served as a pilot study; it structured the framework of first-year university students’ mathematics-related beliefs in relation to students’ persistence on the further mathematics study. A two-stage approach of using PLS-SEM to assessing the conceptual framework was introduced in detail. The relationships of dimensions of students’ epistemological beliefs about mathematics, self-efficacy, self-regulated learning strategies and perceptions about learning environment were assessed. This study provides the feasibility for future follow-up studies to examine mathematics-related beliefs and intentions to continue learning among university students on a larger scale.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Katarina Perander ◽  
Monica Londen ◽  
Gunilla Holm ◽  
Susanne Tiihonen

Students’ experiences during their first year of higher education affect study pace, retention and graduation. The aim of this study was to examine how students describe and perceive their studying and academic emotions during the first semester of higher education in order to analyse the interplay of different factors affecting student learning. The students participated in a compulsory study skills course, and wrote about their study experiences in reflective journals (N = 190) that were analysed qualitatively. Reflective journals have been rarely used in previous research on first year studies. The journals allow students to write about their experiences as a whole, and provide a broad and in-depth picture of students’ perceptions of their study habits and learning in higher education. Our results revealed that students’ academic emotions were profoundly affected by their self-regulated learning skills. Moreover, the study showed how self-regulated learning and academic emotions were tightly intertwined. In order to enhance student learning both self-regulated learning and academic emotions need to be considered in university teaching, and when universities plan the first year for new students.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharareh Hekmat ◽  
Lindsay Nicole Dawson

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate knowledge and attitudes toward genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and nanotechnology among the Canadian youth demographic. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. The secondary objective was to compare knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among students studying nutrition as to students who do not study nutrition. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was developed by researchers and student volunteers. This questionnaire was distributed to first year university classes at Western University. The multiple-choice questions were analyzed using SAS, and open-ended questions were analyzed using theme analysis. Findings GMO knowledge was strong for both populations, however questions related to the percentage of GM foods grown in Canada indicated nutrition students had a stronger GMO knowledge (p = 0.031). Open-ended questions revealed overall attitudes toward GMOs were either unsure or negative between both populations. Nutrition students had a more positive attitude toward nanotechnology, and a slightly stronger knowledge regarding applications of nanotechnology (p = 0.006). Theme analysis indicated that participants enrolled in nutritional studies were less apprehensive toward GMOs. No differences were indicated in open-ended questions related to nanotechnology between both groups, which may be due to the lack of awareness related to the novelty of the technology. Research limitations/implications Without a validated questionnaire, this reduces the reliability of the results from the questionnaire. The questionnaire was carefully designed by combining previous studies questionnaires, as well as producing questions from related literature, which increases the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire. In addition, the questionnaires underwent several rounds of pre-piloting as well as multiple revisions with current health-care professions to increase the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire. Practical implications This study will assist in understanding the current knowledge of GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. This will then allow us to understand if knowledge has a factor in altering students’ attitudes toward these technologies. If students do not have a strong knowledge toward these technologies, then this may lead to the potential implementation of education regarding GMOs and nanotechnology. As these technologies are emerging and being used in everyday food items, individuals should be aware of the implications, as well as the benefits of these technologies. Originality/value This is the first study regarding this topic in Canada. Results from this study provide baseline data that may be used to conduct future research.


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