Abstract

NORIEGA BIGGIO, Marianela; MARIS VAZQUEZ, Stella  and  MARIS GARCIA, Stella. Dropout Behaviour of Students Newly-Enrolled on Design Courses: The Case of the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Rev. Actual. Investig. Educ [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.1, pp.341-364. ISSN 1409-4703.

The paper reports a study of the factors behind retention and dropping out phenomena at higher education level. The sample was made up of 2273 fist-year students enrolled on the drawing course at the Architecture, Design, and Urban Planning School, University of Buenos Aires. An ad hoc instrument was devised to assess spatial competence, and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was used to determine learning style. Demographic data and students marks were also gathered. It was verified that the more significant factors in the explanation of the variance for the attrition/retention were the level of spatial competence in the moment of starting the course, the performance of the first semester and variables related to the learning style. In addition, relationships with demographic factors were verified: sex, time of registration, place of origin and type of middle school, management and orientation. From these results, some reflections arise in the classroom level, based on the need to help students develop styles of adaptive learning, enabling them to positively take on the demands arising from the new field of study, in which it must grow in self-regulation.

Keywords : drop-out; retention; spatial competence; academic performance; learning styles; higher education; Argentina.

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