Approaches to learning : perceptions about Chinese international undergraduates in Australian Universities
- Li, Boli
- Authors: Li, Boli
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Chinese students constitute the largest cohort of international undergraduates in Australian universities, comprising 37.3% in 2019. However, there is a scarcity of research examining perceptions of how Chinese international students (CIS) learn in Australian universities, from the broader context of the students themselves, their Australian teachers and Australian domestic student (ADS) counterparts. Drawing on the 3P (Presage-Process-Product) framework by Biggs, Kember, and Leung (2001), this thesis explored the perceptions of CIS, and their lecturers and classmates regarding their approaches to learning in Australian universities. Utilising a mixed methods approach (Creswell, 2014), surveys were conducted with 156 CIS and 212 ADS incorporating a validated survey by Biggs et al. (2001) called the R-SPQ-2F. Interviews were also conducted with 10 CIS and 10 Australian academics from two Australian universities, one regional and the other metropolitan. The findings demonstrated that perceptions of CIS were characterised by a unique learning structure that differed from ADS in a number of ways, particularly in relation to group learning, the use of understanding and memorisation strategies, and classroom engagement. It was noted that these disparities did not support the generally held view of CIS as mainly surface oriented learners who preferred rote-learning techniques (Grimshaw, 2007). While adopting similar levels to ADS of deep approach strategies in their learning, CIS also used more surface and achieving approaches than ADS, and tended to incorporate memorising with understanding in their learning process. However, it was also evident that the approaches used by CIS in Australia were often more complex than what was easily observed. For instance, their reticence in class was not necessarily indicative of passive learning, but instead, suggestive of the complexity of context that needs to encompass the ‘whole being’ of these students, i.e., their personality, culture, and most of all, the dynamics of their perceived approaches to their learning. This study also investigated negotiations that occurred between CIS and their Australian lecturers. While CIS’ learning approaches were greatly shaped and determined by academics’ instructional decisions involving curriculum, teaching patterns and assessment procedures, it was also found that academics’ instructional activities were reshaped and counter-determined by CIS’ learning approaches. As a result, a Co-constructed Model of Learning and Teaching (CMLT) for CIS in Australian universities, based on the 3P framework (Biggs et al., 2001), was developed to assist future education experiences for international students. This study is significant in that it has given voice to Chinese students, enabling a greater understanding of their experiences in Australian universities to emerge, in conjunction with and supplemented by insights provided by their Australian student counterparts and educators. It has enabled both international and domestic students the opportunity to reflect on possible cultural impacts on learning, hopefully improving their capacities to act as effective global citizens. It has also afforded an opportunity for academics to reflect on their beliefs and practices in relation to teaching diverse student cohorts, which will hopefully deepen their understanding of the complexities that come with the increasing globalisation of education.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Li, Boli
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Chinese students constitute the largest cohort of international undergraduates in Australian universities, comprising 37.3% in 2019. However, there is a scarcity of research examining perceptions of how Chinese international students (CIS) learn in Australian universities, from the broader context of the students themselves, their Australian teachers and Australian domestic student (ADS) counterparts. Drawing on the 3P (Presage-Process-Product) framework by Biggs, Kember, and Leung (2001), this thesis explored the perceptions of CIS, and their lecturers and classmates regarding their approaches to learning in Australian universities. Utilising a mixed methods approach (Creswell, 2014), surveys were conducted with 156 CIS and 212 ADS incorporating a validated survey by Biggs et al. (2001) called the R-SPQ-2F. Interviews were also conducted with 10 CIS and 10 Australian academics from two Australian universities, one regional and the other metropolitan. The findings demonstrated that perceptions of CIS were characterised by a unique learning structure that differed from ADS in a number of ways, particularly in relation to group learning, the use of understanding and memorisation strategies, and classroom engagement. It was noted that these disparities did not support the generally held view of CIS as mainly surface oriented learners who preferred rote-learning techniques (Grimshaw, 2007). While adopting similar levels to ADS of deep approach strategies in their learning, CIS also used more surface and achieving approaches than ADS, and tended to incorporate memorising with understanding in their learning process. However, it was also evident that the approaches used by CIS in Australia were often more complex than what was easily observed. For instance, their reticence in class was not necessarily indicative of passive learning, but instead, suggestive of the complexity of context that needs to encompass the ‘whole being’ of these students, i.e., their personality, culture, and most of all, the dynamics of their perceived approaches to their learning. This study also investigated negotiations that occurred between CIS and their Australian lecturers. While CIS’ learning approaches were greatly shaped and determined by academics’ instructional decisions involving curriculum, teaching patterns and assessment procedures, it was also found that academics’ instructional activities were reshaped and counter-determined by CIS’ learning approaches. As a result, a Co-constructed Model of Learning and Teaching (CMLT) for CIS in Australian universities, based on the 3P framework (Biggs et al., 2001), was developed to assist future education experiences for international students. This study is significant in that it has given voice to Chinese students, enabling a greater understanding of their experiences in Australian universities to emerge, in conjunction with and supplemented by insights provided by their Australian student counterparts and educators. It has enabled both international and domestic students the opportunity to reflect on possible cultural impacts on learning, hopefully improving their capacities to act as effective global citizens. It has also afforded an opportunity for academics to reflect on their beliefs and practices in relation to teaching diverse student cohorts, which will hopefully deepen their understanding of the complexities that come with the increasing globalisation of education.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Deep or surface learning? Perceptions of Chinese international and local students in Australian universities
- Li, Boli, Burke, Jenene, Plunkett, Margaret
- Authors: Li, Boli , Burke, Jenene , Plunkett, Margaret
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Issues in Educational Research Vol. 32, no. 1 (2022), p. 149-181
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international students (CIS) still constitute the largest international population in Australian higher education. Yet limited research has examined the lived learning experience of CIS and local students in Australian universities. Underpinned by Biggs, Kember and Leung’s (2001) 3P model of learning, this article explores the perceptions of CIS regarding their approaches to learning in Australian universities, as compared with Australian domestic students (ADS). Surveys incorporating the Revised Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) were conducted with 156 CIS and 212 ADS from two Australian universities. The findings demonstrated that perceived disparities existed between the two cohorts in terms of their approaches to learning. These disparities, however, did not support the well-documented view of CIS as mainly surface oriented learners but rather as more rounded learners than ADS in their learning approaches. This study gave voice to CIS to reflect on their learning in Australian universities, in conjunction with and supplemented by insights provided by their Australian student counterparts. It also enabled a greater understanding of CIS learning in Western universities, particularly in Australian universities. © 2022, Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc.. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Li, Boli , Burke, Jenene , Plunkett, Margaret
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Issues in Educational Research Vol. 32, no. 1 (2022), p. 149-181
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese international students (CIS) still constitute the largest international population in Australian higher education. Yet limited research has examined the lived learning experience of CIS and local students in Australian universities. Underpinned by Biggs, Kember and Leung’s (2001) 3P model of learning, this article explores the perceptions of CIS regarding their approaches to learning in Australian universities, as compared with Australian domestic students (ADS). Surveys incorporating the Revised Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) were conducted with 156 CIS and 212 ADS from two Australian universities. The findings demonstrated that perceived disparities existed between the two cohorts in terms of their approaches to learning. These disparities, however, did not support the well-documented view of CIS as mainly surface oriented learners but rather as more rounded learners than ADS in their learning approaches. This study gave voice to CIS to reflect on their learning in Australian universities, in conjunction with and supplemented by insights provided by their Australian student counterparts. It also enabled a greater understanding of CIS learning in Western universities, particularly in Australian universities. © 2022, Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc.. All rights reserved.
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »