Study Progress

Contributed by:

Musostudy

Intended Learning Outcome:

To track and analyse the progress of learning

Tool:

“Performance as a student is likely to improve if you develop the habit of putting time aside to reflect on how you learn” (Cottrell, 2013, p. 97)

One way to help students reflect and be aware of their learning is through regular surveys. Here are 10 simple questions which, when used at least once a semester, can help students to track their study progress and identify what steps are required, over which time frame, to improve. It is best used before an activity that can help plan next steps. The questions are based on Brookfield’s Critical Incident Questionnaire (2017) and Cottrell’s performance reflection questions (2019).

1. What have I felt most engaged with in this module so far?

2. What have I felt most distanced from in this module so far?

3. What has been most puzzling or confusing?

4. What have I already learnt, or improved, since starting this module?

5. How well am I doing in this module?

6. How do I know this?

7. What do I need to do next to improve?

8. How will I bring about this improvement?

9. What is my timescale to do this?

10. What do I learn about myself from all this?

Activity:

• Review the learning on the module so far and compare to the assessment outcomes, helping students to see what is important to know and be able to do. (See also the Assessment Mastery TLAs and the Module Mapping TLA).

• Ask students to complete the first 8 questions on the survey (this should take approximately 10 minutes).

• Put students into small groups or pairs to discuss their answers.

• Create a central list of what still needs work and what skills/help is required.

• Make a class plan on how this will be achieved.

• Ask students to now answer questions 9 and 10, highlighting any areas where they feel they need extra support. It is important to allow time for this to help them consider their future plans.

• Make a list available of where and when extra support is available and from whom.

How:

These questions could be distributed electronically (on a survey platform) or on paper. Decide how best to store the responses so they can be reviewed before the next time they are completed.

Examples:

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Large Group Teaching:

With large groups, it may be best to run this activity on a digital platform.

Online Teaching:

You can store these questions on a survey platform or the VLE or send them to students by email. It is important that they keep an easy-to-access copy that they can refer back to.

Success:

Students are aware of their progress, what they need to do and where they can find support to improve.

Next Steps:

Remember to repeat this at least once a semester, reviewing the previous surveys, to monitor progress. This is a good activity to use when you are planning for assessments or identifying study skills which are required for success.

Links to other activities:

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Acknowledgements:

Resources:

Survey with space to write answers in: https://www.musostudy.com/resources/2E/study-progress.docx