Factors Affecting the Academic Achievement of Freshmen College Students Essay

Achievement of students in schools has been the concern of school authorities. Several resolving powers have been offered in order to advance the quality of instruction. Some of these prove to be effective for some time, besides later new innovations ar introduced thus sometimes affect the teaching-learning situations in the classrooms. Science subjects argon important because this field have greatly benefited macrocosm in its cases to improve the quality of life. In view of this, college education plays a vital role in molding the minds, interest, aw atomic number 18ness and concern of an singular to prepare himself for the future.Recognizing that learning makes life easier and meaningful, educational institutions, through the mandate of the government, centre its attention on the advance of science and technology in call of classroom instruction at all levels. Science curriculum mustiness be taught in terms of how it can develop scientifically literate person society a nd how it can make an individual more responsive to the unavoidably of the times. Based on observations, science instruction nowadays placed more emphasis on the mastery of the subject matter.When students did well in write examinations, teachers believe that the aim of the lesson has been achieved, but evaluation should non only be based on written tests but should also include unwritten and practical examinations to make sure that learning really has taken place. Since researchers are future science teachers, there is a desire to determine what are the factors that affect students achievement are. The researchers want to conduct a thorough investigation to come up with a possible solution to the problem regarding the science achievement of freshmen students.In view of this line of thinking, the gift study is motivated to look into the factors affecting the achievement of freshmen college students in science which might affect the student achievement whether it would be for g ood or not. Background of the Study The researchers will conduct this study because according to an external science study by Garrison (2004) Filipino students performed poorly in understanding science guesss and principle. These findings were supported by other study conducted by (Askali, 1994) (Acuna and Dasilva, 1993) stating that college freshmen students are weak in science. wholly over the fast changing world, people learned to rely on science for their own excerption and advancement. Man just willingly admits that without such instrument as propellers for progress, this effort to succeed and achieve would be limited and be made useless. The concept that the more knowledge a man has in science, the greater is his chance for change for advancement. It emphasizes that science is essential for national development progress.School curricula are supposed to develop the capabilities of students but according to statistics, approximately fewer than 10% high school graduates have the skills necessary to perform satisfactory in college level in science courses. Attempting to combat trend, nowadays, many science educators are turning to more hands-on approach to their teaching. Instead of having their students memorize long formulas they have them to do experiments starting in the early grades this has been going on for years wherein teachers act as facilitators only.Many students believe that science subjects in the freshmen level are difficult. In fact some do not like the subject. This may be attributed to some factors that underlie students attitude toward the subject. The educational qualification of the teacher may also officiate as a factor that hinders students attitude in their science subject. Students find it more interesting to play truancy than to date classes especially if the method, strategies or approaches of teachers do not suit the mental dexterity of the students.Theoretical framework This study is primarily anchored on the cognitive t heory by Jean Piaget, specifically the formal operational end, in this period the development of the learners mind follows concrete stages. Based on the formal operational method of Piaget, this rage of age is the beginning of ratiocinative and abstract thinking. According to him, youngsters demonstrate ability to reason realistically and occupy possibilities. The learners thinking at this stage is propositional.They use rumor that contains data. The major theme of Vygotskys theoretical framework is that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the development of cognition. Vygotsky (1978) states Every black market in the childs cultural development appears twice first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level first, between people (interpsychological) and therefore inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts.All the higher functions originate as actual relationshi ps between individuals. Benjamin Samuel blooms Theory is founded on individual differences of the students. He justifies that some style or factors affect students learning process. In this study, the warp of students variables such as educational qualification of parents, availability of learning materials, attitudes towards science, compeer motivation and learning styles are hypothesized that influence the academic performance of freshmen college students in science at Universidad de Manila.