Supporting Students with Diverse Levels of Student Preparedness

Student preparedness refers to students’ readiness to engage and learn effectively. It has gotten quite a bit of attention in recent years, as many instructors have observed changes in readiness and many institutions aim to do more to support student success.

Colleges and universities, especially those with diverse student bodies, have long grappled with the intricacies of supporting students across a spectrum of preparedness levels. However, growing challenges warrant another look at the factors behind gaps in student preparedness and renewed efforts to address them.

Preparedness is a two-sided coin that encompasses both the cognitive aspects—such as thinking and reasoning skills, and academic readiness—and the non-cognitive or soft skills, including things like time management and emotional readiness. While the focus has traditionally been on the academic skills students do or don’t have, their understanding of the social contracts of higher education is equally important.

Of course, if students are to succeed in an organic chemistry course they must have some foundational knowledge of chemistry. But if students are to succeed in that same course, they have to understand what is expected of them by their instructor whether that’s adhering to attendance policies, turning in work on time, or any other element of what is sometimes called ‘the hidden curriculum.’

Factors Influencing Student Preparedness

Students come to you from all walks of life. Each student brings with them a unique set of experiences that have shaped their readiness for the course. Some students may have had more exposure to the subject matter and core concepts while others may be completely new to it. Some may have had less rigorous courses than others. This diversity among students can present countless challenges. It can help to keep in mind the various factors that influence student preparedness when deciding how you’ll address readiness issues.

• Academic Readiness The cornerstone of any successful educational journey lies in the ability to grasp the subject matter and core concepts. However, disparities in the quality of prior education among students can lead to significant gaps in this area. Some students may take your without having fully mastered concepts they need to hit the ground running in your course.
• Study Skills and Habits Good study skills like time management and self-direct learning are essential components of student preparedness. Strong study skills enable students to navigate the complexities of their coursework effectively and efficiently. Unfortunately, not all students have had the practice required to build good study habits. Without well developed study skills and habits, students aren’t likely to keep up with the pace of your course and their performance could suffer.
• Motivation and Engagement Students' motivation and levels of engagement play a significant role in their learning experiences. From interest in the subject matter to connection with you, their instructor to a sense of belonging can greatly influence a student's drive to succeed. Conversely, disengagement can lead to poor academic performance and can have a negative impact on retention. Some students may be used to being unmotivated and disengaged in most courses that it becomes a hurdle for courses they could take a genuine interest in.
• Emotional Readiness Resilience, grit, and healthy coping mechanisms are vital for navigating the stresses of academic life. Students who struggle in this area may find it difficult to manage the pressures of rigorous coursework.
• Tech Readiness In an era where technology plays a central role in education, the assumption that younger generations are inherently tech-savvy is beginning to be challenged. Ensuring students are competent with digital tools is a critical aspect of modern education. One thing that can help in this area is to choose technologies that are intuitive and easy to use.

Tips for Teaching To Varying Levels of Preparedness

You may be tasked with the responsibility of teaching a class full of students with varying levels of preparedness. This can be a daunting task, but with a well thought out approach, it can also be incredibly rewarding. Below are some useful tips for teaching to varying levels of preparedness, to ensure that all students in your classroom are able to reach their full potential.

You’ll also find ideas for how Achieve, Macmillan Learning’s courseware platform, can support you on your journey.

 

Assess and Diagnose

A useful first step in addressing underpreparedness is to identify it. By accurately assessing students’ levels of preparedness, you can save energy and effort by focusing on the areas where students need the most help. Tools like diagnostic tests and surveys designed to gauge academic readiness, study habits, motivational levels, or emotional resilience can provide valuable insights into where students might need assistance.

Use tools rooted in learning science research to get to know students.
Achieve has a collection of Goal-setting and Reflection Surveys that were designed to help students set goals and reflect on them throughout your course. These surveys consist of questions related to a student's academic goals, study habits, motivation levels, and self-reflection. Not only do they help students think about their own learning, they can give you valuable insights into how your students view their own abilities and performance. This information can then be used to tailor instruction and support for each individual student.

 

Differentiate Instruction

Dealing with diverse learner needs often requires a flexible approach to teaching. Differentiated instruction, which involves adjusting teaching strategies to accommodate individual learning styles and levels of readiness, can significantly enhance the learning experience for all students. But differentiated instruction can be difficult to do, even more so in medium- and large-sized classes.

Try a powerful adaptive quizzing tool.
With Achieve’s personalized learning tool, LearningCurve Adaptive Quizzing, students progress through the quizzes and the difficulty level adjusts based on their performance. This ensures that they are constantly challenged without becoming overwhelmed. Students who require more time or practice in certain areas can work at their own pace without getting stuck in an endless loop of questions. This personalized approach can help you create an environment where all students have an equal opportunity for success.

 

Create Supportive Learning Environments

A supportive and inclusive learning environment is foundational to student success. You can establish a classroom culture where students feel valued, respected, and encouraged to participate. This can significantly impact their confidence and willingness to seek help when needed. Your style of supportive learning environment will look different from other educators but you can build this by fostering open communication, promoting collaborative learning, and ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities.

Explore a leading student response system.
Did you know that iClicker is available with most Achieve courses at no additional cost? iClicker is the leading student engagement system, and it gives every student a voice. iClicker allows you to engage students in real time by posing questions and receiving immediate feedback. It not only helps instructors gauge students' understanding, but it also provides an opportunity for every student to participate and have their voice heard.

 

Utilize Formative Assessment

Formative assessments have two important benefits: they provide instructors with a snapshot of student understanding and progress, and they give students opportunities to learn through practice. Incorporating frequent, low-stakes assessments throughout the course allows students to receive timely feedback and adjust their learning strategies. By incorporating low-stakes,formative assessments, you can help fill students’ knowledge gaps and track progress along the way.

Use pre-built assessments, specific to your course.
Achieve offers a variety of course-specific assessments that not only check students' knowledge, but also provide them with practice opportunities to grasp the most important concepts in your course. These assessments are tailored to each subject area and are designed to help students develop critical skills like visualization of molecular structures in chemistry or the ability to interpret visual representations of data in economics.

 

Familiarizing Students with Campus Support Services

Another great way to help underprepared is to make them aware of the resources available to support their academic journey. These supports vary from one institution to the next but might include things like tutoring centers, writing labs, counseling services, and advising. Chances are you are already familiar with what your campus has to offer, but your students might not be. You can make them aware, remind them, and encourage them to use these services if your school has them.

Addressing low levels of student preparedness is critical for cultivating inclusive learning environments. You can already spot diverse readiness levels among your students. Now that you have a few strategies in mind to address under-preparedness, all you need are the research-backed tools that can help you along the way. Achieve is a comprehensive online learning platform designed to foster student engagement and support their academic success. Achieve’s flexible teaching and learning tools can help you address under-preparedness and a host of other common challenges.

Discover Achieve for yourself today!

Macmillan Learning’s Digital Courseware Platform Designed to foster engaged active learning in the classroom, Achieve complements your unique teaching style and course needs. Empower your students through enriching content, immersive assessment, and meaningful active learning experiences.

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Sources
Key Facts Cognitive and Noncognitive Skills
The Next Generation Of Workers Is Less Tech Savvy Than We May Think