Freshman Engineering Students At-Risk Of Non-Matriculation: Self-Efficacy For Academic Learning

Abstract

Students identified as at-risk of non-academic continuation have a propensity toward lower academic self-efficacy than their peers (Lent, 2005). Within engineering, self-efficacy and confidence are major markers of university continuation and success (Lourens, 2014 Raelin, et al., 2014). This study explored academic learning self-efficacy specific to first-year engineering students with at-risk indicators. The at-risk determination was made through trajectory to matriculate, classified by cumulative grade point average of academic studies. An adapted version of the Self-efficacy for Learning (SEL) scale, modified by Klobas, Renzi and Nigrelli (2007), was administered to freshman engineering students identified at-risk and not at-risk of matriculation. Internal consistency of the SEL was analyzed and once deemed satisfactory (Cronbach alpha = .94), item-level outcome comparisons between student subgroups were made for each of the 22 instrument items.

Facilitative Teaching Utilizing Active Learning Modules in Engineering Graphics: A Model for Promoting Success and Engagement in Technology and Engineering Education

“…A student's self-efficacy is their confidence in their ability to complete specific tasks (Stajkovic & Luthans, 1998). Self-efficacy acts as a predictor of success in engineering, as well as a predictor of GPA in an engineering degree program, and GPA can act as a measurement of success (Ernst, Bowen, & Williams, 2016;Mamaril et al, 2016).…”

“…Traditionally taught courses delivered in a lecture format can be a disservice to students due to the inability to replay live lectures, large course sizes where they may feel lost among the crowd, and the need to complete assignments while away from instructors' guidance or tools available during the course time (Ernst et al, 2018). Such a traditional format puts students who are at risk of non-matriculation at a disadvantage, possibly resulting in lower self-efficacy (Ernst, Bowen, & Williams, 2016). Students at risk of non-matriculation in engineering degree programs include students with a GPA less than 3.0, students who identify as underrepresented minorities, or first-generation college students.…”

“…Self-efficacy was measured using a 3D Modeling Self-Efficacy instrument (Ernst, Bowen, & Williams, 2016). To measure spatial visualization and mental rotation skills, students completed the Purdue Spatial Visualization Test: Rotations (PSVT:R), following the methods of Sorby and Baartmans (2000).…”

Approaches for Coordinating eTextbooks, Online Programming Practice, Automated Grading, and More into One Course

“…Student success has been linked to student self-efficacy, and targeting instruction to improve student confidence with a specific task can improve student persistence [10]. A key objective of our CS2 course design is to improve student self-efficacy, so our approach to integrating and using tools is done with this in mind.…”

Comparing Effectiveness of Peer Mentoring for Direct Admit and College-Ready Freshmen

“…However, female mentors can help mitigate the female freshmen students' anxiety about succeeding in engineering [24]. This is important as increasing a student's belief in their abilities is one of the key indicators in their ability to persist in engineering [25].…”