Casualties of schooling? An examination of the levels of academic preparedness among 18 to 22 year old students in a tertiary bridging course

This study utilised a case study approach to investigate how the background of students aged 18 to 22 years in a tertiary bridging course at a regional university influenced their preparedness for study at the tertiary level. The research aims to provide educators teaching in the bridging course with an understanding of the student cohort which will facilitate the development of a learning environment which maximises the opportunities for student learning. This study also aims to provide educators at the secondary level of education with insights into the influence that student social context has on academic performance for students such as those in the tertiary bridging course. A mixed methods approach to the case study was used, a first stage which involved the completion of a questionnaire by 157 students of all ages from the second semester 2009 cohort of the Tertiary Preparation Pathway (TPP) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. The second stage of the study involved the conducting of semi-structured interviews with 13 questionnaire participants between the ages of 18 and 22 years of age which further developed the findings from the initial quantitative analysis.Submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, 2010