A study of the understanding of knowledge and learning of a cohort of mature age students

Dowling, David G. and Burton, Lorelle J. (2009) A study of the understanding of knowledge and learning of a cohort of mature age students. In: Research in Engineering Education Symposium (REES 2009) , 20-23 Jul 2009, Cairns, Australia.

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Abstract

In 2005 the authors began a longitudinal research project to explore the factors that influence student success in the Master of Engineering Practice program which was offered for the first time in Semester 2, 2004. This distance education program enables experienced Engineering Technologists to use their workplace learning to gain a qualification at the Professional Engineer level.
This research was initiated because the admission of some students into the program is based on the recognition of their prior workplace learning. Cantwell and Scevak (2004) highlighted the problems that students may encounter when they gain entry to a university on this basis. To explore this issue four previously validated questionnaires were used to gather data on: student approaches to learning, their epistemological beliefs, learning style preferences, and strategic flexibility.
This paper reports on a preliminary analysis of the data gathered from the students who enrolled in the program during the period 2005-2009. In the longer term, when the sample size has grown and more students have graduated, the data will be analysed to explore the relationship between the measured factors and success at university.

Statistics for this ePrint Item

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Commonwealth Reporting Category E) (Paper)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	© 2009 Dowling & Burton. This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Psychology
Date Deposited:	27 May 2010 06:05
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2014 01:17
Uncontrolled Keywords:	mature-age students; knowledge; learning
Fields of Research :	17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1701 Psychology > 170103 Educational Psychology 13 Education > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130212 Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy 13 Education > 1303 Specialist Studies in Education > 130309 Learning Sciences
Socio-Economic Objective:	E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970113 Expanding Knowledge in Education E Expanding Knowledge > 97 Expanding Knowledge > 970117 Expanding Knowledge in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/8020

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