StrengthsQuest Plus LASSI Equals Behavior Change: Student Self-Assessments Used in a

Freshman Seminar to Promote Active Learning

Dr. Dawn RemmersDirector of University Advising, Student Success and Testing

Services

Gateway Advantage program: Overview

150 – 250 provisionally admitted students each FallLimited courses for first semester enrollmentRequired to take three-hour course: EDUC 1302:

College Learning CourseMeet with an Academic Advisor in the University

Advising Center for undeclared students two times in Fall semester

Continuation Requirements:2.0 GPA in 12 hours of completed courseworkNo course grades of “F”

Students not meeting Gateway requirements in their first semester are dismissed from UT Arlington

Cornerstone of Gateway: EDUC 1302 - College Learning Course

Three Major Modules of the Course:Self-Exploration – StrengthsQuest and Learning and Study

Strategies Inventory (LASSI)Self-Regulation and Behavior ManagementCognitive Theory and Learning Strategies

Course AssignmentsMidterm and Comprehensive Final ExamsCompletion of On-line LASSI Instructional Modules:

http://www.hhpublishing.com/_onlinecourses/study_strategies/BSL/index.html

Miscellaneous exercises and writing assignmentsSelf-directed Behavior Change Project

Microsoft Word Document

Behavior Change Project: An Example of Active Learning

Self-Assessments: StrengthsQuest and LASSI Investigate their results: Reflection paper, class, LASSI

on-line Modules Identify an academic-based target behavior for

modification Conduct library research – 3-day module in the libraryDevelop a self-change contractCollect self-observed data on their behaviorWrite an APA-style paper detailing their research,

methods, findings, and conclusions

Progressive assignments and final paper ≈ 50% of grade

Self-Assessment: StrengthsQuest (SQ)

www.strengthsquest.com

Basic Premise of SQ:

Top achievers recognize their talents, build on them (creating strengths), and apply them in creative ways to help themselves achieve. (SQ, 2nd Ed., p. 8)

On-line StrengthsFinder Assessment Top Five Signature Themes

Talents…Strengths…Genius = Positive self-esteem & sense of empowerment

Self-Assessment: Learning and Study Strategies Inventory (LASSI)

http://www.hhpublishing.com/_assessments/LASSI/index.html

On-line assessment tool that measures students’ awareness and use of learning and study strategies

10 scales:

Anxiety Self-Testing

Attitude Selecting Main Ideas

Concentration Study Aids

Information Processing Time Management

Motivation Testing Strategies

Investigation Begins…

Use various exercises from the StrengthsQuest Curriculum and Learning Activities to explore and apply our StrengthsApply Strengths creatively in academics and manage

certain weaknessLASSI On-Line Instructional Modules (as homework):

http://www.hhpublishing.com/_onlinecourses/study_strategies/BSL/index.html Everyone completes the Time Management ModuleStudents select two additional modules that they

personally want to manage betterReading and exercises that help a student reflect on their

behavior in the area and how they could improve

Target Behavior

Investigation of Strengths and Weaknesses

Behavior Modification

Theories

Select a Target Behavior for Modification

Microsoft Word Document

Contract: ABCs of Behavior Change

Identify a problem (target) behavior and the antecedents and consequences

Identify if they want to decrease a problem behavior or increase another behavior that will solve the problem.

Identify what they are going to observe or measure during the week of Baseline and two weeks of “Treatment”

We encourage students to use “Treatments” at the ABCs from their Strengths

Contract

Overall Conclusions

The Behavior Change Project allows students to reflect on themselves and use the information actively.

StrengthsQuest and LASSI make for a more positive combination of assessments with this at-risk population.

The Behavior Change Project allows for students to actively use the behavior management skills learned in class.

The active learning is personalized and requires higher order thinking such as application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation (Bloom).

Overall, the project encourages students to use the basic premise of SQ… use what you do well to succeed

Student Reactions…

LASSI scores tend to be poor on the majority of the scales, so students report in evaluations more positivity in knowing they have strengths that offset the focus on their weaknesses.

Average Fall to Fall Retention Rate: 60.4% Versus 30% or less retention without GW

Average Fall to Fall Retention Rate all FR: 66.5% GPA

Fall 2005 Overall

MetCondition

s

Not MetCondition

sNot GW

2.37 3.08 1.10 2.21

Student Reactions cont…

Student-Reported Survey Results I will use what I have learned from the behavior

change project to improve my behavior in the future.On a 5 pt. scale: 3.32 3.48 3.60

Increasing effectiveness as refine the projectThe StrengthsQuest book and assessment tool have

been useful for my academic life.On a 5 pt. scale: mean rating over several years = 3.10

The LASSI has been useful for my academic life.On a 5 pt. scale: mean rating over several years = 3.04

I feel better prepared to meet my academic goals.On a 5 pt scale: 3.37 3.42 3.90

Student Reactions cont…

GW students reported the cumulative GPA they expected to achieve…

2.5 – 3.0 GPA expected

On the average, GW students received:

2.0 – 2.3 GPA received

Contact Information

Dr. Dawn Remmers

Director of University Advising, Student Success, and Testing

University of Texas at Arlington

Box 19196

Arlington, Texas 76019

Ph: 817-272-7162

dremmers@uta.edu

Gateway Advantage website:

http://www.uta.edu/uac/gateway-home/