Differences between Students' and Lecturers' Perceptions of Factors Influencing Students' Academic Success at University

Qualitative data from 46 lecturers and 72 students were used to identify factors that were perceived as making the most important contributions to students' academic success at university and factors that were perceived as most likely to lead to student failure at university. A questionnaire based on this information was administered to a further 112 lecturers and 392 students. The resulting data highlighted some similarities and many differences in the perceptions of lecturers and students about student success and failure. Some possible reasons for these differences in perceptions are explored, and some of the consequences of the different views are discussed. Particular reference is made to the different views that lecturers and students have about the student effort required for success at university.     

Assessment of the Joint Food Science Curriculum of Washington State University and the University of Idaho by Graduates and Their Employers

ABSTRACT: Thirty-two recent graduates from the joint food science program of Washington State Univ. (WSU) and The Univ. of Idaho (UI) and 12 of their employers participated in a survey study to assess food science program outcomes. The objective of this study was to assess the joint curriculum in its ability to prepare undergraduate students for critical thinking, problem solving, and technical competence in the food industry. Two survey tools, 1 for graduates and 1 for their employers, were designed to assess job preparedness and the skill set attained by food science program graduates. Graduates of the joint food science program generally indicated satisfaction with their food science education and suggested that they were adequately prepared for their jobs. Both students and employers indicated that most of the identified Success Skills are used daily on the job, and that graduates were well prepared with Success Skills. Graduates and employers reported adequate preparation in Food Processing and Engineering competence. Some significant differences ( P < 0.05) were found in perceived and assessed competence. Specifically, while student indicated that they were well prepared with Food Chemistry and Analysis, Food Safety and Microbiology, and Applied Food Science competence, employers indicated only adequate preparation in Food Chemistry and Analysis, and Applied Food Science competence, but poor preparation in Food Safety and Microbiology competence. The findings suggest that students should be given opportunities for self-evaluation in undergraduate courses. Because the survey models are based on Institute of Food Technologists requirements, it is expected that the surveys can be readily adopted by other institutions to assess student learning and program effectiveness.     

Dimensionality in Compensatory MIRT When Complex Structure Exists: Evaluation of DETECT and NOHARM

This study investigated the effect of complex structure on dimensionality assessment in compensatory multidimensional item response models using DETECT- and NOHARM-based methods. The performance was evaluated via the accuracy of identifying the correct number of dimensions and the ability to accurately recover item groupings using a simple matching similarity (SM) coefficient. The DETECT-based methods yielded higher proportion correct than the NOHARM-based methods in two- and three-dimensional conditions, especially when correlations were ≤.60, data exhibited ≤30% complexity, and sample size was 1,000. As the complexity increased and the sample size decreased, the performance of the methods typically diminished. The NOHARM-based methods were either equally successful or better in recovering item groupings than the DETECT-based methods and were mostly affected by complexity levels. The DETECT-based methods were affected largely by the test length, such that with the increase of the number of items, SM coefficients would decrease substantially.     

Prospective teachers' initial conceptions about pupils' understanding of science and mathematics

Earlier reports have shown that prospective teachers' conceptions about teaching science to a high degree are resistant and do not change substantially during the teacher‐training programme. In our investigation we elucidate the prospective teachers' initial conceptions about pupils' understanding of science and mathematics. We applied ‘The Lesson Preparation Method' and used a phenomenographic approach in order to reveal the range of conceptions that the prospective teachers hold. A third of the prospective teachers did not consider pupils' conceptions when planning lessons. The rest of the 32 participants expressed awareness; some of the prospective teachers even referred to subject‐specific teaching experience. Also regarding the prospective teachers' conceptions about pupils' knowledge and beliefs, as well as about pupils' difficulties, there was a significant diversity. By raising these issues about pedagogical content knowledge the prospective teachers' conceptions can be extended and developed during the education.     

Outcomes of schooling: Mathematics achievement and attitudes towards mathematics learning in Hong Kong

High achievement of cognitive skills and the formation of favourable attitudes towards learning are universally acclaimed outcomes of schooling. The present study utilised the Second IEA Mathematics Study data (N=5644) to examine which of the ten measured attitude dimensions are pertinent in explaining mathematics achievement variance of Form One students in Hong Kong. Correlational and commonality analysis revealed that students' perception of their ability to do mathematics, the importance of mathematics to society and the concept of mathematics being a creative subject are the most pertinent attitude dimensions. In particular, the perception of students' estimated abilities to do mathematics made a substantial, unique and common contribution to the explained mathematics achievement variance.     

Factors related to doctoral dissertation topic selection

Although the completed doctoral dissertation represents the culmination of a doctoral program, is often published in journal articles, and serves as the foundation of the early research career of the author, the dissertation has received relatively little attention as a subject of research in its own right. To learn more about how students select their dissertation topics, all doctoral graduates of a major midwestern research university over the one year period from spring quarter, 1986, through winter quarter, 1987, were surveyed. Results indicate that a number of factors influence the selection of a dissertation topic, but not surprisingly the most important is the student's own preference. The factors affecting the choice of topics include the preference of the adviser, trends in the field, the likelihood that the research will be published, and the projected benefit of the research on the student's job prospects. The importance of the factors vary by field and in some cases by gender. When students select their topic and the extent to which the adviser and dissertation committees are responsive to the student also vary by field.     

Educational diagrams

According to C.S. Peirce, diagrammatic constructions may be represented by words in a sentence, an algebraic formula, or a graphic display. They are the basis of all valid reasoning and provide a significant means for discovering unexpected truths. Using Peirce's work as a point of departure, the sources and uses of diagrams in education are discussed. With some educators, like Froebel, these diagrams are presented in a highly conspicuous manner. With others, they may be much less noticeable. But they are always there in any reasoned discourse, in one form or another. To the extent that these diagrams are followed, educational theory and practice may be considered to be controlled by diagrammatic constructions.     

“Teachers’ Hegemony Sucks”: examining Beavis and Butt-head for signs of life

The analysis of cultural artefacts, such as cartoons and films, provides the potential to gain insights into both the professional identities of teachers and the behaviour and self-concepts of students. This paper suggests that the ostensibly banal animated cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-head offer some utility in this respect. The paper explores aspects of the stereotypes and behaviour represented in the Beavis and Butt-head series and briefly discusses some possible interpretations of these images.