Lightning Talk: Students’ Experiences, Struggles, and Motivation in Turbulent Academic Times

Session Submission Type: Lightning Talk Session

Abstract/Description

Students currently attending college lived through some of the most turbulent academic experiences in recent memory: first, in 2020-2021, through COVID-related shutdowns and an abrupt switch to online learning that lasted for many months, then, in 2022-24, learning to navigate academia with ChatGPT and other generative AI apps becoming widely available and just as widely used. In multiple aspects of academic life and performance, faculty across the country are facing increasing difficulties with students’ academic performance. These challenges are particularly pronounced in the field of criminal justice, where the need for critical thinking, ethical considerations, and practical application of knowledge are paramount. To assess students’ experiences and struggles, their motivations and preferences, we conducted an anonymous survey of students at a mid-size university in the Northeast, with a large population of criminal justice students, yielding over 1,000 responses. This Lightning Talk session will discuss the survey methodology and results.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII. Lightning Talks

Individual Presentations

• Student Experiences During Trying Times in Academia: Mixed Methods Survey Design and Administration - Maria Tcherni-Buzzeo, University of New Haven

• The Value of Fostering Intrinsic Motivation in Undergraduate Learning - Alban Zohn, University of New Haven

• Demographic Differences in Competence and Autonomy as Related to Students' Academic Performance - Jasmine Kaur, University of New Haven

• Stress and Emotional Well-Being: The Mediators or Moderators of Academic Performance and Experience in College Students - Haneen J. Alani, University of New Haven

• Zzzs and Degrees: An Exploratory Analysis of Student Sleep Quality and Related Academic Outcomes - Megan M. Trafford, University of New Haven

• Connected and Disconnected: How Smartphone Usage in Classrooms Affects College Students’ Learning and Academic Performance - Jing Xiao, University of New Haven