What determines perseverance in studying science?

This article explores the issue of university student recruitment and retention beyond the first and second year of studying science. The research investigated the 'image' students have of science, the demands they face in studying science and student self-efficacy, and the relative importance of these factors as perceived by 140 returning New Zealand year two science and engineering students, using questionnaires and focus group interviews. Results indicate that returning students are generally confident in their ability to cope with their science studies. However, a significant minority of students was unsure or not coping with issues such as course workloads, and findings suggest that during their first year science students need to be reassured that they are valued, and that their education is taken very seriously by the institution and their lecturers. Student commentary suggests this can be achieved by personalising lectures, ensuring personal contact with lecturers and monitoring how students are coping with the challenges and stresses that affect workload issues and subsequently their academic progress

The Mathematics Orientation Seminar: A Tool for Diversity and Retention in the First Year of College

In this article I describe Adelphi University\u27s Mathematics Orientation Seminar, a new course that was introduced into the mathematics major to help students find their passion in mathematics and to strengthen the educational community within our department. I discuss quantitative and qualitative results of surveys among students in the Mathematics Orientation Seminar in Fall 2016 and Fall 2017, which suggest that this might be a useful course for other institutions to utilize within any major. Finally, I explore faculty perspectives and describe what I believe to be the final version of this course

9/17/2010

https://surface.syr.edu/scis_news/1074/thumbnail.jp

9/10/2010

https://surface.syr.edu/scis_news/1075/thumbnail.jp

Significance of Proficient Communication on Career Choice Among First Years in Rural South Africa

Career choice involves the selection of one occupation over another. It is very important as it gives people focus on what career to follow. However, a lack of adequate information on career choice is capable of negatively influencing career choices. Hence, this study examines the significance of the adequate information on career choice among first year students using a selected rural South African university. A quantitative research method was employed for data collection. Purposive and random sampling was used to select the institution and sample respectively. Questionnaires were administered to 375 randomly selected first year students studying in the selected rural South African university. The findings of the study show that career choice is important and can contribute to the success of students. Attempts are made to communicate about career pathways with students while in high schools through the provision in the curriculum. Various factors ranging from parental influence, teachers, presence or absence of career counsellors, amongst others affect the career choice of students. The study recommends that education stakeholders, inclusive of parents, should be informed on the need to guide students in making informed career choices. Career information centres should be made available to students in various locations in the country.Career choice involves the selection of one occupation over another. It is very important as it gives people focus on what career to follow. However, a lack of adequate information on career choice is capable of negatively influencing career choices. Hence, this study examines the significance of the adequate information on career choice among first year students using a selected rural South African university. A quantitative research method was employed for data collection. Purposive and random sampling was used to select the institution and sample respectively. Questionnaires were administered to 375 randomly selected first year students studying in the selected rural South African university. The findings of the study show that career choice is important and can contribute to the success of students. Attempts are made to communicate about career pathways with students while in high schools through the provision in the curriculum. Various factors ranging from parental influence, teachers, presence or absence of career counsellors, amongst others affect the career choice of students. The study recommends that education stakeholders, inclusive of parents, should be informed on the need to guide students in making informed career choices. Career information centres should be made available to students in various locations in the country.Business Managemen

9/2/2010

https://surface.syr.edu/scis_news/1076/thumbnail.jp

“It’s Hidden, After All:” A Modified Delphi Study Exploring Faculty and Students’ Perceptions of a Graduate Professional Seminar in Communication

Graduate student socialization has been studied in multiple disciplines, including communication. As their career trajectories change, faculty must consider how to socialize students into the field and their subsequent careers. Using a modified Delphi survey, we examined the differences in faculty and students’ perceptions regarding the content of a graduate professional seminar in communication. Results indicate that students would prefer a focus on implicit norms and the hidden curriculum, while faculty would prefer to focus on disciplinary content. We offer recommendations for developing a course that addresses both needs and, thus, simultaneously attends to the changing job market

School counselors: preparing transitioning high school students

Master's Project (M.Ed.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016Without preparedness for possible career avenues after graduation, many youth struggle with career paths they may want to investigate. even the considerably prepared students are uncertain what they are going to do after high school. having transition classes starting in middle school can further enhance students' career paths once they graduate from high school. this project focuses on rural school counselors helping to prepare high school students transition into possible career opportunities. rural school counselors often have additional advocate duties to help keep a positive connectedness between students and their schools. increased connectedness and transition classes can make the transition process much more manageable for students after they graduate from high school (Grimes, Haskins, & Paisley, 2013)

THE IMPACT OF INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWING ON OCCUPATIONAL ENGAGEMENT AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF COLLEGE FRESHMEN

Abstract Occupational engagement, a component of the trilateral model for adaptive career decision, is an important construct for the modern world of work where job change is the norm and career paths are nonlinear. Since institutions of higher education dedicate significant resources to facilitate the career development of their students, it is also important to develop and evaluate cost-effective career development interventions that reflect modern career development theory and the current economic climate. The present study had the following two general research questions: Does informational interviewing have a significant impact on the career development of first year college students (i.e. occupational engagement, career decision self-efficacy, career maturity)? and Does informational interviewing lead to greater life satisfaction, satisfaction with major, and generalized higher education gains? To address these two questions, 29 college students enrolled in a first-year orientation seminar were given the task of completing eight informational interviews over the course of the spring 2011 semester and blogging about their experience, as well as completing an online questionnaire assessing their career decision self-efficacy, occupational engagement, generalized higher education gains, life satisfaction, and academic major satisfaction. Their responses were then compared to a control group of students enrolled in the same course during the spring 2011 and summer 2011 semesters, who did not complete any informational interviews. While the intervention group showed greater gains on all dependent variables compared to the control group, the results were not statistically significant. An examination of the current research design and suggestions for future research are explored