1. 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

2. 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

3. 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%

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

5. 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%

6. 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.

7. 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%

8. 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

9. “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”

10. 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

11. Example of information:

12. Example of Information:

13. Example of Information:

14. 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

15. Example of Application Task

16. Example of Application Task

17. 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

18. 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%

19. 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.

20. 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.

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