Effects of a Science of Learning Course on College Students’ Learning With a Computer

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 947-978
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Greene ◽  
Nikki G. Lobczowski ◽  
Rebekah Freed ◽  
Brian M. Cartiff ◽  
Cynthia Demetriou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Conceptual Knowledge ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Circulatory System ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
Self Regulated Learning ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
First Generation College

First-year courses have been used to bolster college student success, but empirical evidence on their efficacy is mixed. We investigated whether a first-year science of learning course, focused on self-regulated learning, would benefit first-generation college students. We randomly assigned students to a treatment condition involving enrollment in the course, a comparison condition in which students had access to online course materials only, or a control condition. From this larger study, we recruited 43 students to participate in a laboratory task involving learning about the circulatory system with a computer. We found that treatment and comparison students experienced greater changes in conceptual knowledge than the control group, and we found differences in the enactment of monitoring and strategy use across conditions.

A Longitudinal Investigation of First-Generation College Students’ Mentoring Relationships During Their Transition to Higher Education

2021 ◽  
pp. 152102512110227
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Hagler ◽  
Kirsten M. Christensen ◽  
Jean E. Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
First Year ◽  
School Membership ◽  
Longitudinal Investigation ◽  
First Generation College

Non-parent mentoring relationships are important protective factors for first-generation college students. Previous research has focused on singular mentoring relationships measured at one time point, failing to capture the breadth and dynamic nature of social networks. The current study is a longitudinal investigation of first-generation students’ mentoring networks during their transition to college at a four-year, predominantly minority-serving commuter university. At the beginning and end of their first year, students (N = 176) responded to online surveys on their mentoring relationship(s), attitudes toward help-seeking, and college experiences. Cumulative support from pre-college mentoring relationships retained across the first year was positively associated with self-efficacy. Support from newly acquired mentoring relationships was positively associated with psychological sense of school membership. Network orientation was positively associated with self-efficacy and sense of school membership. These findings highlight the importance of diverse mentoring networks and demonstrate the utility of collecting longitudinal data on multiple mentoring relationships.

Reducing Gaps in First-Year Outcomes Between Hispanic First-Generation College Students and Their Peers: The Role of Accelerated Learning and Financial Aid

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-463
Author(s):  
Christian A. Latino ◽  
Gabriela Stegmann ◽  
Justine Radunzel ◽  
Jason D. Way ◽  
Edgar Sanchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Financial Aid ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Achievement Gaps ◽  
Accelerated Learning ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
First Generation College

Hispanic students are the most likely out of all racial or ethnic groups to be first-generation college students (FGCS). Hispanic FGCS have been shown to be the least likely to persist out of all racial or ethnic backgrounds. However, there is little literature on this population. To address this, the present study investigated the association of accelerated learning in high school (e.g., Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment) and financial aid on academic outcomes for Hispanic FGCS and Hispanic non-FGCS at a 4-year postsecondary institution ( n = 2,499). Hispanic FGCS fared worse in first-year grade point average (GPA) and first- to second-year retention than Hispanic non-FGCS. After controlling for academic, nonacademic, and demographic variables, results suggested that accelerated learning reduced achievement gaps in first-year GPA and financial aid reduced achievement gaps in retention rates for Hispanic FGCS. These results suggest that environmental supports (i.e., accelerated learning and financial aid) may be able to improve GPA and retention for Hispanic FGCS.

Understanding the Self-Regulated Learning Characteristics of First-Generation College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janeen Antonelli ◽  
Sara Jolly Jones ◽  
Andrea Backscheider Burridge ◽  
Jacqueline Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
The Self ◽  
Self Regulated Learning ◽  
Regulated Learning ◽  
First Generation College

Pedagogical Interventions in the First-Year Writing Classroom for First-Generation College Students

2018 ◽  
pp. 153-173
Author(s):  
Jessica Rae Jorgenson Borchert
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Writing Classroom ◽  
Trio Programs ◽  
First Year Writing ◽  
Pedagogical Interventions ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
Writing Genres

This chapter discusses ways of engaging first-generation college students in the first-year writing classroom. Many interventions exist for helping first-generation college students adjust to and thrive in academic life, such as TRIO programs. This chapter focuses on how instructors in writing classrooms can create pedagogical interventions to encourage and engage these students in academic discourse. To better understand how the pedagogical interventions were received, the author studied contemporary research on multiple ways of engaging first-generation college students in the first-year writing classroom. Along with this research, the author also collected data from students that identified what activities and assignments most engaged them and what they learned from those assignments. From this data and outside research, the author determined three main pedagogical interventions to help first-generation college students succeed, such as peer review groups, creating empathetic spaces, and assigning empathetic writing genres.

The impact of peer mentoring on the mentors

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Connolly
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Peer Mentoring ◽  
First Generation ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Generation Students ◽  
Grade Point ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Generation College ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of first generation peer mentoring experiences on retention, grade point average and students’ perception of their academic and leadership development. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized a mixed methods approach. Focus groups and interviews were utilized to determine the reported leadership experiences of the mentors. Descriptive statistics were used to compare grade point averages and retention rates. Findings The study found peer mentors in residential life perceived an increase in leadership skills; including role modeling, time management, personal confidence, and problem solving. The peers were challenged in their roles, and perceived these challenges to help them to grow as leaders. When compared to their peers, the peer mentors experienced increased retention and similar grade point averages. The results indicated that peer mentoring experiences can be beneficial for the mentors who are first generation college students, even experiences that are particularly challenging. Research limitations/implications The biggest limitation to this study is the fact that this was a small sample, without a control group. A further limitation is that it was difficult to get students to participate in the study. Future research might examine peer mentoring experiences of first generation students on larger campuses or on multiple campuses to allow for a control group of first generation peers without a peer mentoring experience. Practical implications The results indicated that peer mentoring experiences can be beneficial for the mentors who are first generation college students, even experiences that are particularly challenging. Social implications Due to the potential for their success, these types of experiences should be expanded for first generation students, a group that is at a higher risk for drop out. Special attention should be paid to ongoing training in peer mentoring experiences, given the level of commitment by the mentors. Originality/value While other studies have examined the impact of peer mentoring on those that have been mentored, and a few have examined the impact of the experience on the mentors themselves this study extends the research by looking at first generation college students. This is valuable because first generation students continue to lag in their success in college and practical research on what can improve the student experience for this group is necessary.

scholarly journals Integrating Soft Skills Through Active Learning In The Management Classroom

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chynette Nealy
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
College Students ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
First Generation ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
First Generation College Students ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Education ◽  
Course Materials ◽  
First Generation College

This article discusses how active learning can be used to develop soft skills required by managers of contemporary organizations. Findings from course materials developed in response to business and industry demand for increased focus on soft skills are examined using an emerging population, first generation college students in institutions of higher education.     

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