Student-Centered Learning in a First Year Undergraduate Course
Keywords:
contextual factors; group work; student-centered assessment; student factorAbstract
Student-centered learning (SCL) may or may not be the ideal
choice of learning method in certain parts of the world depending on
many factors including the different learning cultures. This study
discusses some of the factors that could have influenced students’
responses towards SCL in an undergraduate mathematics course in
Malaysia. The student factor discussed in this study is learning habits
and preferences whereas the contextual factors are mathematics content
or topic, time of intervention and the teacher. The study found that
students generally responded positively towards SCL because it is more
fun and provides opportunities for sharing of ideas, among other
factors. However, when it came to assessment the students preferred the
traditional form of assessment instead of being assessed in a SCL
environment. This is primarily because they feel it is easier to score in
the former but in the latter other group members contribute towards a
student’s score as well.
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Copyright (c) 2015 Saras Krishnan
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