scholarly journals Does academic performance or personal growth share a stronger association with learning environment perception?

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 274-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorie M. Colbert-Getz ◽  
Sean Tackett ◽  
Scott M. Wright ◽  
Robert S. Shochet
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Teodora Slavinski ◽  
Dragan Bjelica ◽  
Dejana Pavlović ◽  
Valentina Vukmirović

Life satisfaction influences sustainable personal growth among students by ensuring that they more firmly apply themselves in their education. Universities represent an environment where students may improve their life satisfaction through better academic performance and being engaged in extracurricular sport. This study evaluates life satisfaction (LS) among university students, 18 to 28 years of age to confirm whether academic performance, involvement in sports and physical activity are factors relating to higher levels of LS among university students. The study uses the Brief Multidimensional Life Satisfaction Scale. Over a three-year timeframe, a questionnaire was administered to a sample of 875 students across areas of study in institutions of higher education in Serbia. The data were analyzed using Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis tests. LS among students is found to be significantly improved under the following conditions: removing the burden to pay for one’s tuition, having a better Grade Point Average (GPA) as well as being involved in sport. Moreover, the optimum level of physical activity to positively affect LS is found to be four to five hours a week.


Author(s):  
Carlos M. Serrano ◽  
Maxim D. Lagerweij ◽  
Ilse R. Boer ◽  
Dirk R. Bakker ◽  
Pepijn Koopman ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
pp. 276-290
Author(s):  
Bernice Beukes ◽  
Karin Barac ◽  
Lynette Nagel

Extant research shows that blended learning environments are widely accepted by students mainly because of the flexibility it offers. However, there is very little research that focuses on students’ preferences within a holistic blended learning environment and the contribution that a component makes to the learning of the subject matter, especially in large class settings. The purpose of this study is to investigate students’ perceptions of blended learning components in a holistic blended learning environment and whether these perceptions vary for students with different academic performance levels. A mixed method approach was used in this study performed at a residential university in South Africa and the results indicate that auditing students do have a clear preference for specific components within the environment and significant differences exist between the preferences of different academic performance levels. Such insights allow lecturers to adjust the resources and focus of the different components implemented in a blended learning environment.


Author(s):  
Marianne McKay ◽  
Antoinette Smith-Tolken ◽  
Anne Alessandri

In order to prepare our students for a challenging workplace, the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa have ‘layered’ Engaged Learning strategies throughout the four-year undergraduate degree in an approach that is innovative in a science-based programme. In this research project, we assessed the effects of service-learning (SL) and a six-month internship on student employability by analysing reflections that were collected over a number of years. We also asked industry members whether they felt students had improved in key areas after the final year internship. The student submissions for SL showed evidence of personal growth and transformation, and those for the internship reflected industry requirements for professional skills in a complex and technically demanding milieu. It was found that these engaged experiences provided sound preparation for working life, as well as  giving students opportunities for self-questioning and personal growth, which is unusual in the natural sciences learning environment.


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