Scaffolding the curriculum to enhance learning, motivation and academic performance of mature aged students in engineering

A growing population of part-time mature aged students is finding multiple pathways (work, TAFE) to university. This poses conundrums for academic staff around the traditional ways of delivering curriculum as the students often articulate without the requisite critical and academic skills. These students, and the transition issues they face, have given cause for reflection about a cohort that has much life experiance, but little exposure to new academic ways. This paper proposes a design of a curriculum for Elements of Software Design, within the Associate Degree of Engineering (Systems) program at the University of South Australia (UniSA). The design involves a structured assesment framework aimed to familiarise students with their new university environment and foster effective lifelong learning strategies. This will be achieved through building academic skills, improving overall performance and inspiring motivation in learning.