Abstract
Designing curricula and teaching styles for students entering university is complicated by the diversity of student backgrounds and prior learning styles. We examined a range of factors that might influence success in the first course at university to try to identify those that were most important. Data were obtained for a first year Biology course at a large Australian university. Factors having a significant impact on final marks included student age, whether the students were local or international, time since high school and the learning strategy adopted. Taking a gap year or a longer break after high school was found to be detrimental to performance. Students taking Biology in their first semester performed better than those who did the course in their second or a later semester. International students attained higher grades than local students. Shallow or reproducing learning styles appeared to be as effective to grade achievement as strategies that led to a measurably deeper understanding of the subject matter.
Highlights
The university learning environment is very different to that which final-year high school students experience
This study focussed on patterns of achievement of students who completed their first semester biology course
International students achieved higher grades than local students, but this was more pronounced for students from English-speaking backgrounds
Summary
The university learning environment is very different to that which final-year high school students experience. A large body of research has focussed on the unique position of students experiencing the transition from high school to university—and improvements are being seen in student experience at Australian institutions (Krause et al.)—the social and academic backgrounds of students, as well as the ways in which they learn can still influence their learning experiences, their performance, and their assessment of university courses (Crisp et al, 2009). These attributes may be influenced by teaching methods and course presentation, which can have a profound effect on their university experience and ultimate academic performance. Other “innovations” such as the provision of iPads to all Bachelor of Science students, and greater provision of online learning material, were instituted between these years
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