BACKGROUND To identify non-cognitive and socio-demographic characteristics determining academic success of Sri Lankan medical undergraduates. METHODS A retrospective study among 90 recently graduated students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Students were stratified into two equal groups; 'High-achievers' (honours degree at the final MBBS exami...

OBJECTIVES A few enterprising adults with shunt treated spina bifida live independently in the community, have a job in competitive employment, and drive to work in their own car. By contrast others with similar disability but lacking their motivation remain dependent on care and supervision. The aim of this study was to identify events in the history of their shunt which may have influenced th...

A previous study compared two student groups that played a mathematics game based on a teachable agent. One group played with, and the other without, the inclusion of a social conversation module: a chat between the student and the teachable agent. Results were that students who used the game with the chat included had a more positive experience of the game and learned more in the sense of teac...

BACKGROUND The BeWEL (BodyWEight and physicaL activity) randomised controlled trial demonstrated that a weight management programme offered in the colorectal cancer screening setting was effective. However, the differential responses of participants to the programme were notable. This study aimed to explore the factors associated with success and to identify implications for future programme de...

This study demonstrates that explicit metacognitive training appear to benefit lower achievers’ mathematical word problem solving in a computer environment. 11 to 12year-old Singaporean students in collaborative pairs were assigned to two word problem solving groups. The first group received explicit metacognitive training before word problem solving with WordMath (treatment); and the second gr...

In this study we examined the responses of low-achieving students to reform-based mathematics instruction in five elementary classrooms. We used qualitative methods at two schools to identify the needs of low achievers in these classrooms. Through classroom observations and interviews with teachers, we studied the involvement of low achievers in whole-class discussions and pair work. Results su...

Student achievement in mathematics and science has been given prominent attention as the nation’s quest to achieve Vision 2020 and ability to face the challenges of globalisation are largely dependent on it. However, numerous studies have shown that achievement in mathematics has been less than satisfactory in both primary and secondary school levels and that many Malaysian pupils display phobi...