Learning approaches and outcomes in a first-year biology topic: A relational study involving distance and on-campus students

Abstract

This study is an investigation of tertiary students' learning approaches and outcomes, and the relationship between these aspects of learning. The research context was a topic in a first-year biology unit, taught in both on-campus (internal) and distance (external) modes at a regional Australian university. The study followed three research themes. The first was to identify the approaches to learning adopted by students. The second was to identify qualitative variation in learning outcomes, using and testing recent developments in the SOLO model. The third theme was to investigate the relationship between learning approaches and outcomes. These three themes included comparisons of internal and external students.