Dr Helen Aucote School of Psychology Melbourne The Use Of E-technology To Support Students With Diverse Academic Ability In First Year Psychology: A Six Year Journey Dr Helen Aucote School of Psychology Melbourne

The units PSYC100: Foundations in Psychology (Sem 1) PSYC101: Applications in Psychology (Sem 2) Aim Introduce the most influential topics in psychology develop APA laboratory (lab) report writing skills

2010 Psychological Theories 2 hour lecture & 1 hour tutorial Statistics 1 hour stats lecture & 1 hour tutorial Assessment Weekly activities Lab report Stats assignment Final theory exam Final stats exam Unit fail rate PSYC100 5.4% PSYC101 9.4%

2011 Bradley review But I was prepared! ATAR scores dropped from 67.2 in 2010 to 58.9 in 2011 But I was prepared! Statistics was dropped 3 contact hours a week Weekly activities Lab report Final theory exam

2011 I was wrong!!! Students were struggling with the lab report Unit fail rate 2010 2011 PSYC100 5.4% 13.4% PSYC101 9.4% 18.2% Lab report metrics   2010 2011 PSYC100 Average Mark 62% 57.15 Fail rate 7.8% 22.2% Did not submit 1.1% 6.3% PSYC101 Average mark 62.2% 51.5% 11.2% 39.8% 5.0% 3.8%

2012 Lab report assistance Increase engagement with the theory content Introduced a lecture on lab report writing Identified seven key area of the lab report to work Seven tutorials were devoted to these topics Increase engagement with the theory content Introduced a case studies book (weekly activities related to the book) Included weekly online quizzes (1) Purpose and Layout (2) Formatting (3) Introduction Section (4) Hypotheses (5) Method Section (6) Discussion Section (7) APA Citing and Referencing, & Abstract.

2012 Lab report work helped…. A little Engagement with theory …failed Lab report metrics   2011 2012 PSYC100 Average Mark 57.15 61.8% Fail rate 22.2% 16.9% Did not submit 6.3% 5.7% PSYC101 Average mark 51.5% 59.8% 39.8% 23.4% 3.8% 4.1% Unit fail rate 2011 2012 PSYC100 13.4% 16.7% PSyc101 18.2% 17.3%

2013 Weekly activities related to the lab report content Students worked on the weekly activities before class and during class in small groups, followed by whole class discussions

“lots of interesting group activities and fun things to help learn by being involved makes classes much more enjoyable fun and the learning process overall better” 2013 Not that successful …. But the feedback from students was extremely positive Lab report metrics   2012 2013 PSYC100 Average Mark 61.8% 58.4% Fail rate 16.9% 17.1% Did not submit 5.7% 6.25% PSYC101 Average mark 59.8% 55.7% 23.4% 22.7% 4.1% 6.7% “The weekly activities are great!!!! They helped me a lot with writing my lab report”

2014 Online Lab Report Writing lessons Online delivery of information previously in lecture Eight lessons (topics identified earlier) Information presented as briefly as possible Comprehension questions, guiding progression Application task Students apply knowledge to develop of a model lab report on an unrelated topic Access the weekly activity upon completion of weekly lesson Access a model lab report upon completion of final lesson

Example of information:

Example of Information:

Example of Information:

Application Task: A study was introduced in first online lesson Each week the student apply their knowledge from the lesson to the study to create an entire lab report

Example of Application Task

Example of Application Task

2014 2014 Semester 1 2014 Semester 2 and 2015 Semester 1 Provided the information and comprehension questions without the application task. Plagued with technical problems. 2014 Semester 2 and 2015 Semester 1 Included the application task

Units Back On Track! Lab report metrics 2010 2011 2015 PSYC100   2010 2011 2015 PSYC100 Average Mark 62% 57.15 60.3% Fail rate 7.8% 22.2% 16.8% Did not submit 1.1% 6.3% 2.0% PSYC101 Average mark 62.2% 51.5% 61.3% 11.2% 39.8% 3.4% 5.0% 3.8% 0.0% Unit fail rate 2010 2011 2015 PSYC100 5.4% 13.4% 8.2% PSYC101 9.4% 18.2% 6.7%

Three Pillared Approach To Lab Report Writing Interactive online lab report writing resource Understanding and application of knowledge related to the weekly topic. Weekly assessment task Application and analysis of knowledge for the weekly topic in relation to the students’ own lab report. Interactive tutorial program Synthesis and evaluation of knowledge.

Lessons Learned Solution is not always readily apparent Evaluate using all the evidence possible Don’t be too ambitious Gradual changes might save your sanity Decision to adopt a new text book made in 2013 with interactive activities…. But held off until 2016.

Acknowledgments Ass. Pro Kylie Mosely Dr Kate Witteveen Dr Stephanie Malone