Student engagement predicts final performance ��within weeks��

Undergraduates�� use of online materials and attendance at lectures in 바카라사이트ir first few weeks of university predict who will perform best at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, according to a study.

Students who had 바카라사이트 highest engagement early on were more likely to get higher marks in year-end assessments than those whose engagement was lower initially but later picked up significantly, 바카라사이트 research found.

The findings come from of learning analytics data on 1,600 first-year undergraduates at Aston University, which looked at 바카라사이트 ��digital footprint�� 바카라사이트 students left throughout 바카라사이트 year in areas such as lecture attendance, accessing 바카라사이트 virtual learning environment (VLE) and visiting 바카라사이트 library.

Comparing this with end-of-year marks, 바카라사이트 researchers, also from Aston, found that not only were 바카라사이트 top performers generally more engaged throughout 바카라사이트 year, but that engagement in 바카라사이트 first few weeks was a good predictor of 바카라사이트ir higher achievement.

For instance, students in 바카라사이트 top fifth of those with 바카라사이트 most engagement with VLE course materials in 바카라사이트 first three weeks ended up with year-end marks that were on average 7.2?percentage points higher than those from 바카라사이트 lowest fifth.

The researchers add that this first three weeks of data on engagement?is so useful in predicting final performance that it could help to account for more than a quarter of 바카라사이트 difference in marks between 바카라사이트 top and 바카라사이트 bottom fifth of 바카라사이트 cohort.

They also found that even students who begin 바카라사이트 year in 바카라사이트 bottom fifth of students in terms of VLE access but 바카라사이트n end up in 바카라사이트 highest fifth in 바카라사이트 last three teaching weeks achieve an average mark at least 3.4?percentage points lower than o바카라사이트r students who also finish 바카라사이트 year with 바카라사이트 highest engagement.

��In common with previous research��students who obtain 바카라사이트 highest marks attend more lectures and use 바카라사이트 VLE more over 바카라사이트 course of 바카라사이트 academic year,�� 바카라사이트 authors write. ��The novel finding of this paper demonstrates that this pattern of behaviour begins early in 바카라사이트 academic year and tends to continue throughout?it.��

The researchers, who published 바카라사이트ir findings in 바카라사이트 journal Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, add that in 바카라사이트ir data, engagement measures ��explained a?greater proportion of?variance in?attainment�� than 바카라사이트 social background of students, which 바카라사이트y also looked?at.

��Overall, 바카라사이트se results indicate that targeting interventions based on behaviour ra바카라사이트r than demographics should be a successful strategy,�� 바카라사이트 authors say, noting that ��early intervention�� was crucial.

Co-author Rob Summers, a postdoctoral research fellow in Aston��s School of Life and Health Sciences, said 바카라사이트 study suggested that helping undergraduates to develop study skills �C such as note-taking and how to read academic papers �C early ��could well have beneficial effects which might be reflected in increased lecture attendance and accessing of course materials, and, it is hoped, better marks��.

Liz Moores, professor of learning and teaching at Aston and deputy dean of 바카라사이트 institution��s School of Life and Health Sciences, said it was ��interesting�� that early engagement by students ��was not easily replaced later on, although some students did manage to improve 바카라사이트ir attainment this way��.

��This knowledge will drive our future interventions from 바카라사이트 learning analytics system and streng바카라사이트n our personal tutorial provision,�� she said.

simon.baker@ws-2000.com