Search

This study aimed to evaluate and compare approaches to learning by a longitudinal cohort of undergraduate students as they progressed from their first to third years of study in anatomy and physiology. "The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students" (ASSIST) was completed at the beginning and end of their first year of university study, and in their final semester. At first year, a surface learning approach predominated; however, at third year, students showed a significant increase in their use of deep and strategic learning approaches compared to first year, although surface learning approaches were retained. The extent to which third-year students took both strategic and deep approaches to learning was positively correlated with their performance on assessment. As students progress through a three-year science degree, they develop deeper and more strategic learning approaches, and assessment and teaching styles probably promote these approaches to learning.

Much research has been done on the effectiveness of Supplemental Instruction programs, (Peer Assisted Study Sessions, PASS, in Australasia). Less research has emerged on on students' reasons for participating in PASS and their perceptions of the effectiveness of the program. In this article, we will report on a small improvement-focused research project at one university. Our particular focus will be to reflect on the survey tool we used and how we could improve the design and administration of this tool. Implications of the survey findings for improving the training program of PASS leaders in this institution will also be discussed.

Pasifika learners comprise a significant number of students in the New Zealand education system. In terms of educational performance, Pasifika learners generally have lower success rates and academic achievements than other student groups at both secondary and tertiary levels. The aim of this paper was to review current governance, investigate student support and evaluate outcomes at a New Zealand tertiary institution. Data collection occurred in three phases. The first stage of the research saw 37 student questionnaires completed between May and June 2014, phase two consisted of semi-structured interviews with graduate students between September and October 2015. Phase three in March 2016 entailed the analysis of learner achievement records. The results of the research illustrated that Pasifika students' experience was improved through a variety of learning support systems being available to them. Participants identified that the most valuable student support systems were study skills support and study buddies. Pasifika students also recognised that having a supportive environment that respected Pasifika cultural values and building trust in relationships with staff enhanced their learning experience. In conclusion, a variety of appropriate support systems and a culturally sensitive environment are needed to enrich Pasifika students' tertiary learning experience and achieving positive graduate outcomes. The insights provided by this paper will help develop student support systems that improve graduate outcomes of Pasifika learners, forming a template that can be implemented at tertiary institutions in New Zealand.

Note-taking in lectures is often taken to be the distinguishing characteristic of learning at university. It is typically assumed that this is a commonsensical skill that students either have or will learn through trial and error. The data from a research project in one New Zealand university suggest that taking good notes is not a skill that first-year students just have: they face considerable challenges and in many instances prefer to be provided with notes. Although as academics we need to ask the question what our role is in students' note-taking, we also need to ask ourselves whether the debate about note-taking is still relevant in the twenty-first century. The rapid technological changes challenge not only the idea of note-taking in lectures but also the idea of lectures as a format and forum where teaching and learning takes place.

A 6-year study examined the effects of mentoring on university entrance exam results for 62 New Zealand students. Although there was no measurable impact on test results, student and mentor surveys revealed other benefits: increased confidence, enhanced ability to study, and significant contact with influential adults. (Contains 37 references.) (SK)

Previous studies using large-scale correlational data have suggested that study behaviours play a significant role in influencing academic outcomes. This study adopts an alternative approach using a qualitative analysis of students' retrospective comments to establish links between students' reported study behaviours and their grades. Using survey responses and grades from 175 students enrolled in their first-year courses at a New Zealand university, a content analysis revealed both similarities and differences between the higher (grades above 75), middle (grades between 60 and 74), and lower (grades lower than 60) groups of students. All students, irrespective of their grades, identified the difficulty of adapting study behaviours to resolve time and information management issues. Academically successful students appear to possess a higher degree of achievement motivation, thus indirectly suggesting that conscientiousness and resilience may have been an underlying factor in their academic outcomes. The impact of attendance as a variable influencing academic performance will also be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the art of note-taking and being a good listener in New Zealand. The purpose of note-taking is to assist students to concentrate to what the speaker is trying to explain and to allow them to have a summary in note form and to write up notes in full after the lecture. The technique in taking notes is to minimize the language by shortening words and sentences.

The population diversity of New Zealand is due to the unique fusion of indigenous peoples of Polynesian origin (Māori), western European colonization (Pākehā), and more recent (20th century) immigration from the Pacific region (Pasifika). However, disparities in tertiary education indicate that Māori and Pasifika students are more likely to drop out during their first year of study and are less likely to complete their qualification than their Pākehā peers. Higher levels of course engagement may increase first-year grades, elevate academic performance, and encourage persistence between the first and second years of study. Therefore, a Student Course Engagement Questionnaire was used to quantify engagement in a compulsory first-year undergraduate Human Anatomy and Physiology course in a New Zealand university. A data mining technique was used to assign students into a low-engagement/low-achievement cluster, and a high-engagement/high-achievement cluster. The skills, emotional, and participation-interaction components of engagement were lower in Pasifika students: these students' academic grade was lower than those of both Māori and Pākehā students. The strongest predictors of cluster membership were skills engagement and emotional engagement, suggesting that these components outweighed other aspects of course engagement. Māori and Pasifika students were overrepresented in the low-engagement/low-achievement cluster, and underrepresented in the high-engagement/high-achievement cluster. We suggest that embedding study skills within course delivery, and constantly emphasizing their importance, would likely increase student course engagement. Also, we report that both Māori and Pasifika students remain more disengaged than their Pākehā peers.