Principles of the effective learning environment and the first-year student’s transition challenges to adult learning

• eLABa: knygos tekstas

ENThe present research analyses one out of multiple challenges the first-year students face during their transition to academic life, and the principles of effective learning environment. The balance, if managed wisely, might become a strong enabler to a successful transition to university life. The study analyses a series of factors, such as the balance of work and rest of the first-year students, skills of time management and the psychological state during the first months at university. The study employs a comparative analysis to evaluate the average hours of work and rest per week of a firstyear student comparing with the planned time. The data of students’ work and rest balance was collected from the diary they were asked to record for two months. A focus group was comprised of twenty-five respondents of finance, twelve students of language and three of health science study programs at Lithuanian universities. Criteria of effective principles and teaching / learning environment should be examined by different aspects, such as methodological, sociological, cultural, physiological, educational, psychological, etc. A principle is the central idea, the basic rule of behaviour, expressed in term of necessity or obligation. [From the publication]