A Curricular Intervention for Teaching and Learning: Measurement of Gains of First-Year College Student Learning

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Bibliographic Details
Title: A Curricular Intervention for Teaching and Learning: Measurement of Gains of First-Year College Student Learning
Language: English
Authors: Cox, Thomas D., Lemon, Mark A.
Source: Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. Jun 2016 16(3):1-10.
Availability: Indiana University. 755 West Michigan Street UL 1180D, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: josotl@iupui.edu; Web site: http://www.iupui.edu/~josotl
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 10
Publication Date: 2016
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Freshmen, Achievement Gains, Academic Achievement, Measures (Individuals), Pretests Posttests, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Scores, Intervention, Curriculum Design, Likert Scales, Data Analysis
Geographic Terms: Florida
ISSN: 1527-9316
Abstract: There is continued debate about the changing and varied nature of first year college courses in American higher education institutions; therefore, additional research is needed to inform faculty and administration of the specific areas on which to focus for teaching and learning in these courses. This study is one possible approach to easily determine student "gains" as measured by the College Success Factors Index, or CSFI. This index consists of ten college student success factors that indicate student achievement. The purpose of this research was to examine the CSFI pretest and post-test data for possible student gains. These self-evaluations were administered in both the summer 2013 and summer 2014 semester courses. The CSFI pre- and post-test scores comparing each summer were analyzed and the overall gains were observed. The summer 2013 courses were taught without a focus on the targeted success factors. A curricular intervention was then introduced in the summer 2014 courses that integrated the ten success indices into the lessons, activities, and assignments. The overall differences or "gains" in student learning are described, along with implications for first year teaching and program design in colleges and universities.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 18
Entry Date: 2016
Accession Number: EJ1104870
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:There is continued debate about the changing and varied nature of first year college courses in American higher education institutions; therefore, additional research is needed to inform faculty and administration of the specific areas on which to focus for teaching and learning in these courses. This study is one possible approach to easily determine student "gains" as measured by the College Success Factors Index, or CSFI. This index consists of ten college student success factors that indicate student achievement. The purpose of this research was to examine the CSFI pretest and post-test data for possible student gains. These self-evaluations were administered in both the summer 2013 and summer 2014 semester courses. The CSFI pre- and post-test scores comparing each summer were analyzed and the overall gains were observed. The summer 2013 courses were taught without a focus on the targeted success factors. A curricular intervention was then introduced in the summer 2014 courses that integrated the ten success indices into the lessons, activities, and assignments. The overall differences or "gains" in student learning are described, along with implications for first year teaching and program design in colleges and universities.
ISSN:1527-9316