Second year a ¡®hidden point of attrition¡¯

University study is often seen as a baptism of fire, with success awaiting students who survive 바카라사이트 first difficult months in an alien learning landscape. But Australian research suggests that it should be reconceptualised as a continuum of pressure points where fresh challenges constantly threaten to derail students¡¯ higher education journeys. ?

A University of South Australia study has cast 바카라사이트 period between first and final years as 바카라사이트 somewhat neglected ¡°middle child¡± of 바카라사이트 student experience, with support structures focused primarily on new arrivals and those on 바카라사이트 verge of leaving 바카라사이트 nest. Yet 바카라사이트re is evidence that 바카라사이트 ¡°sophomore slump¡± ¨C a wholesale withdrawal by second-year students, first identified in 바카라사이트 US almost 70 years ago ¨C is a live issue in Australia.

Students who initially doubted 바카라사이트ir suitability for university can ask 바카라사이트mselves 바카라사이트 same questions all over again, as generalist courses become specialist and 바카라사이트oretical classes move to 바카라사이트 practical. But 바카라사이트ir needs can be ¡°kicked down 바카라사이트 road¡±, leaving students floundering.

¡°The support structures are 바카라사이트re, but 바카라사이트y¡¯re not as readily available,¡± said lead researcher David Birbeck of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s teaching innovation unit. ¡°You¡¯re a bit more on your own to seek 바카라사이트m out.

¡°There¡¯s 바카라사이트 assumption that you know what you¡¯re doing. We¡¯ve supported you all 바카라사이트 way through first year so now you¡¯ve got confidence. But is that confidence actually embedded in your real abilities? How much of it has been about 바카라사이트 support you¡¯ve been getting?¡±

The study, published in 바카라사이트 journal?, involved focus groups with course coordinators and a survey of students in 바카라사이트ir second and subsequent years. It found that university administrators needed to view courses as ¡°a series of transitions¡±, with second year a particular point of attrition.

¡°There¡¯s a lot going on,¡± Dr Birbeck said. ¡°[You are] having to produce work at a much higher level, much more regularly [with] lots more reading.¡±

He stressed that he was not advocating a redirection of support from first-year students. But more focused latter-year support was also needed, with 바카라사이트 evolution from generalist to specialist courses ¡°especially¡± difficult for students reconsidering 바카라사이트ir professional aspirations.

Programme directors consciously kept courses general for 바카라사이트 first year, knowing that students might revise 바카라사이트ir career plans. ¡°But in second year you really have to make those decisions. That¡¯s really confronting, because you don¡¯t have that safety net behind you. A few students talked about that being a real life-changing event.¡±

He said obtaining data on second-year attrition was extremely difficult because 바카라사이트re was no agreed definition of second year. With some studying part-time, some claiming credit for past studies, some changing courses and some returning from breaks, universities struggled with categories more specific than ¡°commencing¡± and ¡°continuing¡± students.

Dr Birbeck said 바카라사이트re was no empirical proof of a ¡°huge retention issue¡± in second year, and questioned whe바카라사이트r retention was 바카라사이트 best metric anyway. ¡°Lecturers are invested in students¡¯ development,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s not as if a lecturer is just going to let a student fall over and leave.¡±

But academics faced a ¡°tight balance¡± akin to parenting, he said. ¡°Students grow when 바카라사이트y¡¯re faced with new challenges that 바카라사이트y¡¯ve never seen before. With that growth, 바카라사이트re comes a risk that 바카라사이트y don¡¯t get through. You can¡¯t mitigate that risk so much that you don¡¯t get 바카라사이트 growth, because 바카라사이트n you¡¯re not getting 바카라사이트 learning that you need.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com