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Students' expectations of learning key skills and knowledge.
1Department of Human Communication, De Montfort University, Leicester LE7 9SU. jin@dmu.ac.uk
Summary
This study explored speech and language therapy students' skill expectations. Findings reveal how perceptions evolve throughout their undergraduate degree, informing curriculum improvements.
Area of Science:
- Speech and Language Therapy Education
- Higher Education Pedagogy
- Student Learning Outcomes
Background:
- Student expectations are crucial for effective teaching and learning in higher education.
- Understanding evolving student perceptions is vital for achieving desired learning outcomes in specialized degree programs.
- Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) programs require specific skill acquisition, making student expectations a key focus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate speech and language therapy students' expectations of key skills and knowledge acquisition.
- To analyze how these perceptions change over the four-year undergraduate degree program.
- To inform curriculum development and student guidance in SLT education.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire survey was administered to over 100 undergraduate students across all four years of the SLT program at De Montfort University (DMU).
- Data collected were analyzed to identify significant differences in expectations between and within different year cohorts.
- The study focused on understanding the dynamic nature of student perceptions throughout their academic journey.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed in student expectations regarding acquired skills and knowledge across the four years of the SLT program.
- Perceptions of learning evolve throughout the degree, indicating a developmental shift in student understanding of professional competencies.
- Analysis highlighted variations in expectations both between different year groups and among students within the same cohort.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide valuable insights into the student learning experience in speech and language therapy programs.
- Recommendations can be developed for De Montfort University and other institutions to enhance SLT curricula and student support.
- Addressing student expectations proactively can lead to improved learning outcomes and better preparation for professional practice.