Abstract:

Learning challenges are more common in 21st century than many people believe; however there are more efficient and better methods to develop academic learning skills for students. Identifying learning problems can help both students and lecturers to apply specific learning techniques and work together to be more productive in the process of teaching and learning. This study investigates the collaboration of science foundation lecturers in addressing the students’ academic performance and challenges in their foundation modules at the University of Venda. The study is also aimed at finding out whether students can be able to apply their IT skills in other modules and the make use of group work in projects into different foundation modules to enhance performance and develop academic learning skills. In this study students were given projects in their respective modules (Foundation Biology and Foundation Information technology) and it was require to them to make use of their IT skills during the research report and also during the presentation of their project. These projects were done in groups wherein students undertook some mini researches. Their findings were then reported in writing and presentations were held. The Foundation English lecturer helped in assessing the use of the academic language used in writing and during oral presentations. The findings from these projects were that students’ academic performance and skills improved and their specific knowledge in those modules also improved radically. It was found that group work plays a very imperative role in enhancing the students’ performance and collaboration in various foundation modules.

Keywords:

Academic learning skills, group work, collaboration, students’ performance, foundation modules.