Although self-directed learning is considered important in both educational practice and theory as a 21st century skill and as a means to motivate students, most teachers find it difficult to integrate self-directed learning into their practice. An instrumental case study was conducted to investigate how teachers at four innovative Dutch secondary…

The role that tutors should play in a tutorial session has long been discussed and debated in the writing centre literature. However, little attention has been given to tutor perceptions and actual practices, particularly vis-à-vis writing conferences. This study investigated and compared the perceptions and actual practices of two experienced…

This study uses a quasi-experimental design to assess how the incorporation of an embedded writing centre tutor in the experimental class affects student achievement in comparison with the control class which had limited involvement with The Writing Centre. Data were collected from 43 students enrolled in two classes who completed a total of 158…

The guiding principle behind university writing centres is to focus on the process of writing rather than the finished product, prioritising higher order concerns related to organisation and argumentation of texts rather than lower order concerns of grammar and punctuation. Using survey-based data, this paper examines students' concerns regarding…

Drawing on role theory and socio-constructivist ideas about learning, this study explores how peer-tutoring can support tutors' learning. The sample comprised ten 16-17-year-old biology tutors, working with twenty-one 14-15-year-old students from a science class over eight weeks. Data were collected through an online wiki, tutor interviews, paired…

The level of student preparedness for university-level study has been widely debated. Effective study skills modules have been linked to supporting students' academic development during the transition phase. However, few studies have evaluated the learning experience on study skills modules from both a student and staff perspective. We surveyed…

Recent initiatives to enhance retention and widen participation ensure it is crucial to understand the factors that predict students' performance during their undergraduate degree. The present research used Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test three separate models that examined the extent to which British Psychology students' A-level entry…

Retention and continuation are key challenges for educators in higher education; understanding the issues that make either a positive or negative impact on student success and drop-out is therefore pivotal. Previous studies have concentrated around the issues contributing to students' decisions not to continue with their course of study. In…

Presents study results exploring sensitivity of child and adult tutors in one-to-one tutoring interactions. Reports that adult tutors showed greater sensitivity than child tutors and were more likely to display behaviors that promoted efficient learning. Explores sensitivity to learner's need for sufficient information and to participate actively…

Describes one aspect of an evaluation of an action-planning initiative to improve pupils' learning in Year 9, focusing on Personal Learning Planning (PLP). Reveals that students did not link PLP with fundamental aspects of effective learning and that outcomes differed for boys and girls. Includes references. (CMK)

Summarizes a study that utilized path analysis to examine the effects of tutor-tutee intimacy, tutoring conditions, and background variables on overall tutor satisfaction. Reveals higher satisfaction among tutors reporting greater intimacy with tutees. Discusses those variables affecting intimacy including ethnicity, same-sex pairing, and ease of…