The "3P" model developed by Biggs (2003) suggests that presage, process and product factors of the learning environment have a great influence on the student’s success in the course. Presage factors, in their turn are divided into student and institutional presage factors.
Presage Factors of the Learning Environment
Student Presage Factors
Among the student presage factors are student’s prior knowledge, abilities, preferred learning styles, values and expectations. Therefore, these factors are to greatly influence the student’s success in learning new material in the classroom.
Prior knowledge, for instance, will determine how comfortable the students will be feeling in the beginning of the course. Furthermore, positive prior experience will make student’s learning experience more positive. On contrast, if the student never dealt with certain material or situations before, he or she might not feel as comfortable in the new learning environment (Abd-El-Fattah, 2005).
Another important aspect to consider is student’s natural or acquired abilities to deal with certain learning situations. While some students might be fast to learn new concepts and technologies, other will show to be slower at acquiring new skills. As for the preferred learning styles, the teacher should always remember that each student’s learning style should be taken into consideration when designing a course (Allert, 2001). This means that, whenever possible, material should be presented and taught using diverse methods of instruction that, combined, will be acceptable for each type of learners.
Student’s values and expectations is another aspect to be taken into consideration and paid attention to. If the course does not correspond to the student’s values and expectations, one might simply lose interest in the subject. Therefore, the teacher should be always motivating students.
Institutional Presage Factors
Institutional presage factors include curriculum, institutional values, teaching methods and assessment. This means that all these factors directly influence students’ learning experience and success in the particular course. Classes should be designed in such a way that students' activities are supported and encouraged by school.
As for assessment and evaluation, it should be very well thought over in order to adequately reflect the students’ success and efficiency in comprehending the course material. Such assessment, according to Sitthiworachart et al (2008), should “stimulate higher order thinking skills and provide personalized feedback”.
Process Factors that Influence Learning and Teaching
Examples of process factors can be the learning environment itself, which includes, for instance, efficiency of communication and interaction, emotions, attitudes and motivation (Haiboss.com, 2007). These factors influence student’s learning experience and effectiveness right in the process of studying.
Product Factors
Finally, product factors are the third integral element of student’s success in the class. The success, thus, will depend on how much and how well the student has studied in the process. Such learning outcomes, as a result, become the basis for further success or failure in the class (Garfield et al, 2002). Furthermore, the product factor received at the completion of the course becomes a presage factor in the next relevant course a student will take.
Sources:
- Abd-El-Fattah, Sabry. “The effect of prior experience with computers, statistical self-efficacy, and computer anxiety on students’ achievement in an introductory statistics course: A partial least squares path analysis.” International Education Journal, ERC2004 Special Issue, 2005, 5(5), 71-79.
- Allert, James. “Learning Style and Factors Contributing to Success in an Introductory Computer Science Course.” Fourth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT'04), 2004.
- Garfield, J., Hogg, B., Schau, C., and Whittinghill, D. "First Courses in Statistical Science: The Status of Educational Reform Efforts." Journal of Statistics Education, 10(2), 2002. Web.
- Haiboss.com. Factors Affecting the Learning Process. 2007. Web.
- Sitthiworachart, J., Joy, M.S. and Sutinen, E. Success Factors for e-Assessment in Computer Science Education. In: World Conference on E-Learning in Corporate, Government, Healthcare, and Higher Education (ELEARN) 2008, 17-21 November 2008, Las Vegas, NV.
Alla Kondrat - Alla Kondrat+ is a Feng Shui topic editor at Suite101.com, as well as a full time freelance writer and translator (Russian and Ukrainian). ...
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