Postgraduate cohorts are diversifying as a result of changes in the UK higher education, shifting priorities of universities and changing training requirements of students. Students’ prior knowledge is a key element to their success, particularly in taught modules. The prior knowledge of a diverse cohort naturally varies considerably, so that students’ preparedness for higher-level training in different areas is variable. The proposal explored here is that students will benefit more from, and engage more deeply with, their training if they are supported in the acquisition of any required prior knowledge for the modules.
The research question addressed here was: ‘Can the provision of online resources help to engage and motivate students to become self-directed learners?’ First, self-directed learning (SDL) was explored as one way to support the transition from undergraduate to postgraduate learning. The research subsequently uncovered the perceived value of online learning tools (online tests and podcasts) that facilitated SDL. This study also reports analyses of students’ prior knowledge, motivation for and engagement with learning.