The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened challenges for students transitioning from high school to college, leading to significant learning loss. At DePaul University, faculty members noticed students struggled with engagement and communication skills, reminiscent of their experience in online learning. In response, they developed a two-credit course, Communication Fundamentals for College Success, to help students overcome these deficiencies. Offered since 2022, the course focuses on reflection, goal-setting, and active participation, resulting in improved self-perceptions and a commitment to long-term academic success among students.
"We were seeing a greater proportion of students who were not prepared for the college experience," says Elissa Foster, professor and faculty fellow of the DePaul Humanities Center.
Previous research showed that strategies to increase students' collaboration and participation in class positively impacted engagement, helping students take a more active role in their learning and classroom environment.
Since 2022, DePaul has offered a two-credit communication course that assists students midway through the term and encourages reflection and goal setting for future success.
Over the past four terms, faculty members have seen demonstrated change in students' self-perceptions and commitment to engage in long-term success strategies.
Collection
[
|
...
]