Effectiveness of PASS and Tutorials in EC135

Theory suggests that students retain more knowledge if they have engaged in deep rather than surface learning. The EC135 Quantitative Analysis course is one that students find challenging, but it is a compulsory as well as a prerequisite subject in the faculty. A survey investigated how well students retained knowledge, and sought relationships between retention of knowledge, methods used for studying, PASS and tutorial attendance, and grades achieved. It was found that regular tutorial attendance was a strong contributor to retention of knowledge and attainment of higher grades. Peer assisted study sessions (PASS) were valuable for those who participated, although the relative contribution of PASS and tutorials was difficult to identify since many students were strong users of both resources