Instructional Issues and Retention of First-Year Students

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 267-285
Author(s):  
Richard A. Giaquinto
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Cognitive Development ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
First Year ◽  
Post Secondary Education ◽  
Financial Problems ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
To Receive

Literature on retention for first-year students appears to focus on the emotional, interpersonal, and financial problems these students face when beginning their post-secondary education. The article accepts the importance of these issues and their effect on retention. However, the article suggests that there are other issues that should be addressed when we try to uncover reasons why some students lack the persistence and do not complete their degrees. They are respectively the cognitive development of these students, their perception of teaching and learning, and most importantly the type of instruction they receive in their beginning classes. Each of these areas is discussed and a model of instruction is presented that calls for this cohort of students to receive instruction that actively engages them in their own learning. Suggestions are provided for instructors in an effort to help them make their students more active and engaged learners.

scholarly journals Empathy Levels in Canadian Paramedic Students: A Longitudinal Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Pagano ◽  
Kate Robinson ◽  
Chris Ricketts ◽  
Jenalyn Cundy-Jones ◽  
Lisa Henderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Secondary Education ◽  
First Year ◽  
Post Secondary Education ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
First Semester ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Field Placements

<p><strong>Background</strong></p><p>Empathy in healthcare delivery is an essential component to providing high-quality patient care. Empathy in paramedics and paramedic students has been subject to limited study to date. This study aimed to determine the empathy levels demonstrated by first year paramedic students over the course of their first year of study.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong></p><p>This study employed a longitudinal design of a convenience sample of first year paramedic students in a community college program in Ontario, Canada. The Medical Condition Regard Scale (MCRS) was used to measure empathy levels across four medical conditions: intellectual disability, suicide attempt, substance abuse and mental health emergency. Surveys were conducted three times approximately 2-3 months apart; before first semester field placements (Nov/17), after first semester field placements (Jan/18) and near the end of second semester field placements (Mar/18).</p><p><strong>Results</strong></p><p>A total of 20 students completed all three surveys. Females, respondents aged 22-24, and participants with previous post-secondary education demonstrated higher mean empathy scores than their counterparts. Substance abuse was associated with the lowest mean empathy score for every demographic. Mean scores for intellectual disability, attempted suicide and mental health emergency decreased from the first survey to the last. Mean scores for substance abuse increased from 43.3 (SD±8.2) to 46.45 (SD±7.04).</p><p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p><p>Results from this study suggest that in general, empathy levels among paramedic students decline over the course of their education. Male paramedic students are less empathetic than their female counterparts, and those with previous post-secondary education displayed higher mean empathy scores. The findings in this research support previous findings, and suggest that paramedic education programs may benefit from the inclusion of additional empathy training and education.  </p>

scholarly journals Expanding on #YouDoYou: Reflections from the 2015 Cohort of 3M National Student Fellows on Exploring Authenticity in Education

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Karen Young ◽  
Justine Baek ◽  
Piper Riley Thompson ◽  
Wali Shah ◽  
Vrindy Spencer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Academic Life ◽  
Post Secondary Education ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Current State ◽  
The Status

The fourth cohort of 3M National Student Fellows explores the current state of our post-secondary education system across Canada and opportunities to further tune into practice in order to pursue an authentic and meaningful academic life. Six of the 2015 3M National Student Fellows propose recommendations for decision-makers at post-secondary institutions across Canada to challenge the status quo through embracing varied methods of teaching and learning.

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