Students' experiences concerning course workload and factors enhancing and impeding their learning – a useful resource for quality enhancement in teaching and curriculum planning
- 9 February 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal for Academic Development
- Vol. 14 (1) , 69-81
Abstract
The aim of the study is to deepen our understanding of factors which students experience as important in learning, in order to improve the quality of teaching and curriculum planning. A total of 132 veterinary students participated in the study by answering a questionnaire containing open‐ended questions. Most of the comments on factors enhancing learning were associated with teaching practices. Factors related to the planning of teaching, including curriculum and course overload, were commonly mentioned as impeding learning. The students rarely commented on their own actions. The results have been widely implemented in quality enhancement procedures at the faculty, such as curriculum planning and reform, planning of individual courses, improving teaching and assessment practices and arranging support for students' reflection. L'objectif de cette recherche est d'approfondir notre compréhension des facteurs qui sont important en matière d'expérience d'apprentissage des étudiants, de façon à améliorer la qualité de l'enseignement et la planification curriculaire. Au total, 132 étudiants en sciences vétérinaires ont participé à la recherche en répondant à un questionnaire contenant des questions ouvertes. La plupart des commentaires portant sur les facteurs facilitant l'apprentissage étaient associés aux pratiques d'enseignement. Les facteurs reliés à la planification de l'enseignement, tels quel la surcharge au niveau du curriculum ou du cours, étaient communément mentionnés comme nuisant à l'apprentissage. Les étudiants ont rarement fourni des commentaires au sujet de leurs propres actions. Les résultats ont été largement utilisés dans le cadre de procédures d'amélioration de la qualité au niveau de la faculté, entre autres en ce qui a trait à la réforme et la planification curriculaires, à la planification des cours individuels, à l'amélioration des pratiques d'enseignement et d'évaluation, et aux mesures visant à soutenir la réflexion des étudiants.Keywords
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