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A reflection on a workable student support programme

Presenter

Mark Herbert is a senior lecturer in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the Science faculty, University of the Western Cape. He obtained a PhD in experimental nuclear physics from the University of Cape Town but have a passion for teaching and learning. He started his career at the University of the Western Cape as a lecturer on the Extended Degree Programme Physics in 2008. Within the teaching and learning; he has focus on student learning and curricula which promotes active student learning. Currently he is teaching one of the first year mainstream undergraduate physics module and have done work in this module to create a learning environment which promote active student engagement, learning and success in physics.

Abstract

A reflection on a workable student support programme for first-year undergraduate physics students outside institutional lectures and tutorial sessions.

First-year students entering the mainstream undergraduate Physics programme in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) are at different levels of preparedness which have a direct impact on their learning. In particular, it can be asserted that their learning approach to physics do have a direct influence on their performance and retention rates in the subject, and their overall academic progression in their course of choice. Findings of a survey carried out showed that most students reported that although they find the field of physics interesting, it has a great amount of difficulty linked to it. Hence, students needed more guidance and support in their learning to master physics both inside and outside lecture and tutorial periods. 

In response, the lecturer re-aligned the curriculum, i.e. creating and sustaining teaching and learning activities to guide student’ learning as well as creating a collaborative and supportive learning space inside and outside the lecture and tutorial periods. This paper aims to describe the initiatives implemented in the mainstream undergraduate physics programme to enhance concentrated support for these students.  An overview of the structured support framework, programme as well as the results of a survey of students’ experiences of the support programme will be presented and discussed.

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