The Influence of the “Learning from Success” Method on the Feeling of Self-Capability and Motivation for Success among Special Admissions College Students

Abstract

This article describes use of the “Learning from Success” method with college students, after successful completion of their first semester of studies. The participating students were admitted under a lower acceptance threshold and received academic support for core courses in a special support program. The use of the Learning from Success method enabled retrospective learning and in-depth examination of the actions that brought about their success on examinations, as well as articulation of study methods that will enable the students to replicate their success in the future. The action research conducted enables examination of the Learning from Success method and its use with students. The article presents the findings from a retrospective inquiry into the success of students who have difficulty in their studies, the feeling of competence and motivation that the success generated in them and the value of the inquiry according to the Learning from Success method for personal empowerment of the students. The article contributes to existing knowledge about academic support for students with learning difficulties in two primary ways: First, the article presents working methods that help the students form an identity as normative students who achieve success in their studies. Second, the article explains working methods that enable the defining and coalescing of learning strategies that enable the students to replicate their learning successes in the future. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v4n3p389