1. A Framework for PLACEMENT of first-year SCIENCE students Melanie Jacobs & Gideon de Bruin

2. 2 WHERE DO I COME FROM? Head of the Unit for Programme, Enrolment and Quality Management Head of the Unit for Programme, Enrolment and Quality Management Faculty of Science (HOD status) Faculty of Science (HOD status) Science background + Optometry lecturer Science background + Optometry lecturer PhD in Science Education (to be submitted) PhD in Science Education (to be submitted)

3. UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG Auckland Park Kingsway Campus Established in January 2005 as a merger between two universities and a technikon

4. The Soweto campus of UJ 48,000 students 4 campuses

5. GOALS Familiar: Context Policy directives Academic performance Institutional contribution New : Empirical research Framework for PLACEMENT

6. SA HE POLICY DIRECTIVES Past 16 years Widen access (NCHE 1996) Improve throughput (WPHE 1997) Quality Teaching & Learning (HE ACT 1997) Science higher funding grid (Enrolment planning 2004 ) Science  Scarce skills ( NCHE 1997 )

7. FIRST-YEAR THROUGHPUT UJ report 2009 MODULE2006200720082009 MATH 1 54%66%68%46% (844)(517)(304)(461) PHYSICS 1 49%43%47%34% (603)(435)(332)(468) CHEM 1 58%61%65%43% (876)(456)(404)(990)

8. CONTEXT MATHEMATICS PHYSICS CHEMISTRY Fundamental Sciences Rite of Passage Natural Sciences Engineering Health Science Agricultural Sciences

9. GAP

10. MATCHING STUDENT AND PROGRAMME: PLACEMENT

11. REGISTRATION: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

12. STUDENT SUCCESS Tinto 1993 Student: supportFinancial and personal support sense of belongingHelping students develop sense of belonging student preparednessDevelop student preparedness diversityAccommodating diversityInstitution: classroom interactionIncreased classroom interaction placement matchingAppropriate placement matching student abilitiesProgramme: contentSubject specific content curriculum designAppropriate curriculum design

13. MANAGE RETENTION Levitz, Noel & Richter 1999 Student: advisorsAcademic advisors – understand and motivate needAttention to adaptation and need of studentsInstitution: student success structureCreates student success structure contact with ‘at-risk’ studentsIntensive contact with ‘at-risk’ studentsProgramme: LecturersLecturers actively engaged dedicationRecognise staff with dedication

14. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH (1) Cohorts 2006-2009 (3462 participants) Selected students – more success No relation with gender More mature (older) – more success Indigenous African home language  ‘high risk’ Ethnicity : Black (31%), Coloured (23%) White (17%) and Indian (20%) in ‘high risk’ category

15. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH (2) Grade 12: EnglishGrade 12: English significant relation with 1 st year university performance Grade 12: MathematicsGrade 12: Mathematics more learners pass – still significant relation with 1 st year university performance Grade 12: Physical ScienceGrade 12: Physical Science significant relation but lower results inflated (Volmink 2009, Nel & Kistner 2009)

16. EMPIRICAL RESEARCH (3) ModuleCohortnVariance M/APSVariance Access Tests Total Variance Math 12008131 12.4% 6.5%18.9% 2009425.9% 17.2% 23.1% Chem 1200899 28.4% 3.1%31.5% 2009421.7% 23.9% 25.6% Phys 120081300%4.7% 2009423.1% 32.6% 35.7%

17. What did we learn? Convince Faculty Understanding currency of incoming students Admin systems- articulation Revise current practice Review curriculum Will NBT help?

19. Access for success FRAMEWORK 1 st year Enrolment centre 4 yr Science and 5yr Engineering degree Assessment of students 1 st year T&L strategy

20. MORE SPACE- MORE TIME Generic first semesterGeneric first semester in Science College – Fundamental Sciences Computer + Language+ Study Skills and Career Counselling Sem 1 (Year 1)PLACEMENT Sem 2 (Year 1)Sem 1 (Year 2) Sem 2 (Year 2) Math 1AMath 1BMath 2 AMath 2B Science COLLEGE Fundamental Math / Cem / Phy Math 1A (50%) DEGREE DEGREE Math 1B DEGREE Assessment Profiling Math 1A (50%) DIPL DIPL Math 1B DIPL

21. FRAMEWORK Placement FRAMEWORK 1 st year Science ‘Enrolment’ centre 4 yr Science and 5yr Engineering degree / diploma Assessment of students 1 st year T&L strategy

22. PLACEMENT