Understanding Undergraduates: Challenging our preconceptions of student success

Author:   Celia Popovic (York University, Toronto, Canada.) ,  David A. Green (Seattle University, USA)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
ISBN:  

9780415667548


Pages:   264
Publication Date:   21 March 2012
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Understanding Undergraduates: Challenging our preconceptions of student success


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Overview

Most university teachers have ideas about the typical good or not-so-good student in their classes, but rarely do they share these thoughts with others. By keeping quiet about the preconceptions -- or stereotypes -- they harbour, teachers put themselves at risk of missing key evidence to help them revise their beliefs; more importantly, they may fail to notice students in real need of their support and encouragement. In this unique work, the authors explore UK and US university teachers' beliefs about their students' performance and reveal which beliefs are well-founded, which are mistaken, which mask other underlying factors, and what they can do about them. So is it true, for instance, that British Asian students find medicine more difficult than their white counterparts, or that American students with sports scholarships take their studies less seriously? Is it the case that students who sit at the front of the lecture hall get better grades than those who sit at the back? By comparing students' demographic data and their actual performance with their teachers' expectations, the authors expose a complex picture of multiple factors affecting performance. They also contrast students' comments about their own study habits with their views on what makes a good learner. For each preconception, they offer clear advice on how university teachers can redesign their courses, introduce new activities and assignments and communicate effective learning strategies that students will be able to put into practice. Finally, the authors explore the ramifications of teachers' beliefs and suggest actions that can be taken at the level of the institution, department or programme and in educational development events, designed to level the playing field so that students have a more equitable chance of success. Ideal for both educational developers and university teachers, this book: reveals general tendencies and findings that will inform developers' own work with university teachers, provides practical guidance and solutions for university teachers to be able to identify and address students' actual -- rather than assumed -- needs, explores means of addressing and challenging people's natural tendency to rely on preconceived ideas and stereotypes, and explains an action research method that educational developers can use on their own campuses to unravel some of the local preconceptions that may be hampering student success.

Full Product Details

Author:   Celia Popovic (York University, Toronto, Canada.) ,  David A. Green (Seattle University, USA)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.680kg
ISBN:  

9780415667548


ISBN 10:   0415667542
Pages:   264
Publication Date:   21 March 2012
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. The research context 3. Higher Education in the UK and USA 4. Understanding beliefs shared by teachers in the UK and USA 5. Understanding UK teachers’ beliefs 6. Understanding US teachers’ beliefs 7. Understanding students’ beliefs 8. Challenging our preconceptions

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Author Information

Celia Popovic was Head of Educational Development at Birmingham City University, and is now an educational developer at York University, Toronto, Canada. She is book review editor of Innovations in Education and Teaching International. David A. Green is Interim Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Seattle University, USA, having previously been Head of Educational and Staff Development at Birmingham City University in his native UK. He is co-editor of the International Journal for Academic Development.

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