Abstract:

There is a wide body of opinion that suggests that a lack of self-esteem in an individual can be a major barrier to their success as a learner. The researcher would contend that some students and apprentices that he has taught have low self-esteem. Experience in the home or in primary and secondary school may have left some with lasting negative impression of their learning ability. Teaching and assessment methods in higher education may reinforce this.

This study involved carrying out a survey to determine levels of self-esteem among different groups of students and apprentices. The instrument used was the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale which is a ten item self-report measure of global self-esteem. The study set out to determine if there are differences in the levels of self esteem among students and apprentices in a variety of disciplines. The influence of different learning, teaching and assessment methods on self-esteem of students and apprentices was examined.

The conclusions would suggest that we as educators need to be aware of, and employ more positive teaching and assessment strategies that can boost the self esteem of learners.

Keywords:

Self-esteem, learning, assessment.