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Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-110).
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| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Department of Mechanical Engineering
2015
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| _version_ | 1867613224413691904 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra |
| author2 | Case, Jenni |
| author_browse | Case, Jenni Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra |
| author_facet | Case, Jenni Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra |
| author_sort | Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-110). |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14732 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:32:44.899Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publishDateRange | 2015 |
| publishDateSort | 2015 |
| publisher | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| publisherStr | Department of Mechanical Engineering |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/14732 Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra Case, Jenni Marshall, Delia Educational Research Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-110). The construct of approach to learning has proved to be powerful in explaining differences in students' experiences of learning in higher education. However this construct does not explain the impact that students' socio-economic background has on their experiences of higher education. For this reason, the construct of cultural capital that is widely used in the sociology of education literature was used in an attempt to explain the differences experienced by students from various social classes. Data of this study were collected through individual in-depth interviews with each of ten purposefully selected students. Students' approaches to learning were identified for both early and later in the course. A majority of students' approaches shifted from the use of a deep approach to a strategic approach. However, in terms of success in the course, the construct of approach to learning was limited in explaining why some students failed while others were successful in the course. Cultural capital better explained why these differences in performance occurred, and it further emphasized the importance of taking into account the different forms of cultural capital that students bring into higher education. This study has two main implications: firstly, it supports the promotion of deep approach to learning, however, a caution about the students workload should be taken as this might unintentionally promote the use of surface approach. Secondly, the results regarding cultural capital showed that students come from varying backgrounds. This implies that assessment should take this into account and should aim to be explicit in all demands. 2015-11-08T05:03:08Z 2015-11-08T05:03:08Z 2008 Master Thesis Masters MPhil http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14732 eng application/pdf Department of Mechanical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Educational Research Setlogelo, Disaapele Gleopadra Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| title_full | Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| title_fullStr | Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| title_full_unstemmed | Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| title_short | Student success in an introductory engineering course : an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| title_sort | student success in an introductory engineering course an investigation of approach to learning and cultural capital |
| topic | Educational Research |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14732 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT setlogelodisaapelegleopadra studentsuccessinanintroductoryengineeringcourseaninvestigationofapproachtolearningandculturalcapital |