Citation success
by Paul Kershaw
Winning
a Carrick Institute citation for a project designed to detect bad
learning traits early and help economics students to modify their
learning methods has been the result of a team effort at the School
of Commerce.
The citation "for outstanding contribution to student learning" recognises the work of my fellow team members Associate Professor Martin Shanahan, Adjunct Professor Eric Meyer from Nottingham University (who has had a long association with UniSA) and Ken Adams, as well as my own contribution.
The project is a three-way diagnostic tool that includes a questionnaire and analysis, an essay that shows students’ learning traits, and counselling and support to improve learning methods.
I developed the software to run the questionnaire, analyse the results and give students instant feedback on their answers.
Professor Meyer prepared an essay on learning traits. As part of their assessment, students analyse their results against the essay, come to a conclusion and submit it. Students using incorrect learning methods are then encouraged to seek help to modify their learning methods.
Ken Adams works with students to correct their learning, helping them to develop their independent learning by enhancing their capacity to learn.
Our project began with a paper survey for incoming students that was soon replaced with a web-based questionnaire that students could complete online.
In the survey, students are asked 105 questions - 80 questions about their learning and 25 on five different aspects of economics. From the analysis of their responses, we can detect both bad and good learning traits and any incorrect concepts they might have about economics.
Students complete the questionnaire at the start of the semester, so that we can assess their learning traits before they begin studies, and we test them again at the end of the semester, to see if their learning has progressed in the right direction. In most cases, we find significant improvement.
The project has been so successful that it has been embraced by five universities from the United Kingdom. Their students complete our generic questionnaire online and we send them the reports. Some Australian universities are also showing interest in the project and want to experiment with it.
Because we have two sets of questions, one on learning and economics and the other focused purely on learning, students in any field can use it.
The earlier we can detect bad learning traits (for example at primary school level) the sooner we can embed the right learning skills. With additional funding, we hope to develop the tool to include all education sectors.
Paul Kershaw is principal lecturer in the School of Commerce.