UNIVERSITY OF NORTHEASTERN PHILIPPINES

IRIGA CITY
2023-2024

Compilation of the
Topics in College
Adjustments 1

Maricel Lagatic Iraola

Instructor
Oryza Ros Naldo Botin
Student

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 I. Module 3: Learning Attitudes

A transition from Senior High School to College has a huge impact, not just mentally but also
physically, on students or learners. A lot of factors have been causing student stress, such as
pressure, expectation, environment, and challenges in social interaction. According to Missouri
2007, “college students are expected to carry a more difficult workload at a faster pace while
adjusting to a new environment with little or no supervision.” That is why some students have
lower or failing grades when they are in their first year than when they are in a higher grade. During
the whole year, students are going to face many adaptive and developmental tasks. Their
development will be based on their own choices, such as joining school groups, time management,
and learning attitudes.

Learning attitudes determine how we perceive and process things around us and how we let them
shape our thoughts, ideas, decisions, and life's course (Colhando, 2020). That is why students
mostly learn from their experience; it makes us learn and make better choices in the future at
school. Furthermore, these learned attitudes in school do not imply that they are only in school;
they can also be brought to our work, community, and home. Therefore, many strategies and
approaches were made to help and shape students to face the challenges of college. For instance,
Edmondson & Novak (1993) said “that metacognitive tools are used to facilitate meaningful
learning, positive consequences in learning of subject matter, attitudes toward science, and
epistemological views can emerge. Positivistic epistemology continues to be the subtle enemy to
encouraging meaningful learning and constructivist views of the nature of science and knowing.”.
Moreover, encouraging and meaningful learning can be achieved by making goals. According to
achievement goal theory (Elliot and Thrash, 2002), “individuals with a higher propensity toward
mastery goals often compare their current state with that of their previous selves.”. Because we
compare our current state in making goals to our previous selves, it makes us inspired, happy, and
learns, which leaves us room for improvement. Setting objectives then encourages us to attempt
new things and learn how to accomplish them.

Students' experience in college will also greatly influence their level of confidence. Students with high
levels of self-esteem perform better academically since they are more active and competent in the
classroom than those with low self-esteem. Therefore, self-confidence is critical to a student's
academic performance; hence, building self-confidence from the beginning of childhood is
relevant. Parental mirroring through early childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood
communicates acceptance, acknowledgement, and admiration (Amsel, 2023). (Holt, 2014) also
argued that “academic help seeking mediates the association between parent attachment and
learning adjustment; close parent-child relationships are associated with less shame and

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 embarrassment on the part of the child with respect to obtaining academic assistance; this attitude
predicts other positive academic behavior, including organization, preparation, and classroom
engagement." And to conclude, the influence of the family on the student's personality, attitude,
and self-esteem has the greatest impact. It is where we mold ourselves to learn the basics and get the
courage to face every new challenge. Many people say that the family is the foundation of our lives;
however, we should always remember that we are our own life. That is why all of these learning
attitudes, making goals, and self-confidence will depend on our own selves.

II. Module 4: Orientation Towards College Life

The K–12 curriculum was added to give students sufficient time to prepare for higher education levels.
From kindergarten to sixth grade, they teach a diverse education, make students explore their different
interests, and recognize their different talents and skills. They are literate enough to read, write, and do
simple math. Students are also being set to step up to the high school level, where they upskill the
knowledge they acquired in elementary school. They learn how to solve mathematical problems, write
lengthy essays and research papers, and apply critical thinking to problem-solving. Additionally,
selecting a senior high school strand helps us envision the type of work we want to do. The senior high
school program immediately helps us identify our areas of interest, making it much simpler for us to
select the courses we want to study in college.

College orientation matters at the beginning of our college journey since, despite all of these
preparations, the majority of students still struggle to adjust to college. However, there are a lot of
strategies that may help students adjust and adapt in college, even in their first month. The first
example is starting with a positive attitude. Embracing the idea that academic challenges are valuable
opportunities for personal growth and learning is the key. Rather than seeing them as obstacles, view
them as stepping stones on your path to success (Reedley, 2023). Students who approach challenges
with positivity will be able to conquer them more easily and experience less stress. In addition, having a
positive attitude in college will give us more opportunities for social interaction. This will give us the
chance to share, listen, and have company while adjusting to college.

In the first semester of college, the importance of efficiency has major factor in academic performance.
Organizing or planning things helps students reduce their stress from a difficult workload and helps
them slowly adjust to the pressure of their past pace in college. Creating a weekly school schedule will
help students plan and orderly complete these workloads. According to Baker (2022), “as more people

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spend long hours without an eye towards making the most of their time, they begin to suffer work
burnout and low job satisfaction.”. That is why minimizing time while maximizing the output gave the
students satisfaction; this also helped them to check for possible mistakes and save up time that they
could carry out other activities.

Moreover, time management plays a principal role for students, especially me, a varsity student. Every
week, we’re expected to train for 3 to 4 days, and each day should have at least 3 hours of training. I
find allocating time to the different school requirements very difficult, especially when the hell week
comes and the competition is near. However, time management and priorities help me to cope with
this requirement effectively. For a varsity student, it is still important to prioritize the study. We created
a schedule that didn't obstruct my schedule in class with my assignments, and I didn't let myself cram
and finish this as soon as possible.

III. Module 5: Self-Management Outside the Classroom

CASEL defines self-management as “the ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.”. Self-management varies
depending on the environment, scenario, and audience. In different environments, like our homes,
schools, or workplaces, self-management changes. We push harder to compose ourselves and don't
allow ourselves to be vulnerable in social and professional contexts. Because of this, we always try to
accomplish things faster with someone who supervises the work. Conducive settings and environments
will surely promote positive outcomes for the students, besides having good lectures given by their
teachers (Khan, 2015). The supervision gives us pressure to make it to the deadline with a maximized
output. But how will it work if the students are not in the classroom?

The self-management of students outside the classroom becomes easier because of the new technology.
According to McDaniel (2011), "Advances in technology make it relatively easy for students to bring
digital technology with them when they leave the classroom or for instructors to bring the outdoor
learning environment into the classroom." It also becomes convenient to use new technology; aside
from being easy and fast to use, it is also more effective to gather information and research new ideas to
help students with their schoolwork.

Additionally, as technology advances, students' lives become more productive. These days, people may
do their thesis while using the internet and listening to music at a cafe. You only need to type a
keyword to find the topic you need; even worse, the internet can make your papers. New technology
has some advantages, and these can be good or bad for student performance, but we can’t deny that it

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gave us a major help. In terms of submitting output in time, we became advantageous because we can
now pass our papers online. We can now also make our papers using different programs that aid
students with their schoolwork. Most students can pass their papers on time because of this flexibility,
but some may not. Thinking about it, students' attitudes and discipline are the most important aspects
of learning. If you can manage your time and schoolwork well, you can manage your work and
yourself, whether in or out of the classroom.

IV. Module 6: Recitation

Recitation, by definition, involves the public manifestation of knowledge. It requires individuals to

present information or ideas in a structured and coherent manner to an audience (Martinez). The
recitation method has been positively used by many educators, from the lower to the higher academe.
According to Capriola 2019, “a recitation class allows a student to clarify anything that they were
unsure about, as well as ask questions about particular concepts and review the material.”. It is widely
used because it creates an opportunity to learn from the teacher and class discussion, who have
different opinions that contribute to deeper learning. Although recitation is a free space to share our
thoughts, there’s also a way for us to effectively participate in a recitation.

A question always opens the majority of the recitations. Many questionnaire tactics are utilized in
recitation because, besides making information gathering simple, they allow the class to evaluate their
comprehension of the topic at hand. For example, in an open-ended question by Worley that cannot be
answered simply with yes or no, the response must briefly express his thoughts on the supplied subject.
Moreover, the funnel approach is frequently employed in a new group setting, where inquiries are
filtered until you feel at ease. In addition to the numerous questions, there are other techniques to
bolster our responses.

First things first, we need to fully understand the question. Knowing the question well will help you
clearly identify the answer. Next, consider the many responses you may have. By organizing your
thoughts, you will be able to choose which ones to present to the class. Next, present your thoughts
while paying attention to how your audience responds. This will enable you to assess whether or not
your ideas are correct and in line with theirs. Your response will come across as sincere if you use
appropriate body language.

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Starting with a discussion will aid in establishing the class's theme as well. This is beneficial since it will
enable the class as a whole to actively engage and learn by providing clarity on some of the assertions
that may be incorrect. Students can also practice public speaking through recitation and open
discussion, which is quite beneficial, particularly if they are accustomed to sharing and thinking
critically. Recitation can build the student's confidence, which will benefit their academic performance
or even outside of school. Just like from my research during SHS, it was revealed that HUMSS students
who have high self-confidence outperform the other students.

V. Module 7: Taking Test

The examination period is famously known as the hell week for the students. It's that dreadful time
when exams, term papers, and group projects are all due, on top of regular homework and
extracurricular activities (Tolentino, 2019). Some students are hardly coping with the things they need
to get done. During the examination, students suffer anxiety because of many factors, such as the
pressure from the school for the requirements they need to comply with, deadlines, and expectations
from themselves and other people. Bassey and Irouje studied that anxiety, attitude toward schooling,
parental influence, and peer pressure jointly significantly predict students’ cheating tendencies in
examinations. However, preparation and efficiency can help the student avoid this circumstance.

Reviewing is one way for students to prepare for exams. Many have different approaches to reviewing;
some use online flashcards, while others print their outlined lessons. Some students, like me, tend to
manifest a high score. According to Emerson 2022, “positive rituals can help combat negative thinking,
test anxiety, and a lack of focus that can easily undermine your success on test day.”. However,
manifestation is not enough without the student putting in their effort. That is why it is better if we
take the positivity into reviewing; with this, we may avoid burnout and stress and have a high
possibility of a good score.

Furthermore, some students may find it challenging to go over every topic from the previous class,
which is why self-evaluation of how effectively you examine your study materials for a test is essential
for achieving success. Some students who are adept at memorizing data and comprehending it prefer to
review in a short period of time, while other students require plenty of time to review. In short, a
student's ability to achieve a high score is solely dependent on their mental and physical preparation for
the test, as well as their drive to achieve the marks they want.

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 VI. Module 8: Sustaining Interest in Studies

Sustaining interest in one's studies is challenging. Peer pressure and the challenges of adjusting to
college life can be significant triggers for disinterest in learning. It seems extremely hard to maintain
interest in anything, especially studies. What should we do when we feel alone and unhappy due to
daily stress, exhaustion, and the same old things?

Smith Et. Al (2016) defines interest as a powerful motivational process that energizes learning, guides
academic and career trajectories, and is essential to academic success. He also added that “interventions
to develop students' interest matter in any educational context but may be most needed in academic
domains that many students do not find initially interesting or those domains in which interest
typically declines over time.”.

During the academic year, the school attempts to create an environment where students may have fun
even if they are at school by organizing several events and programs. Participating in these programs
helps pupils relieve stress and fosters a better atmosphere. Depending on their interests, students can
also join a variety of organizations. There's also an activity they can join that benefits the students and
the school. For instance, by joining different competitions such as quiz bees or sports, students gain
experiences and new knowledge, and they also meet new people. Students can also receive incentives,
such as cash allowances or scholarships, from the school itself or another institution.

Moreover, the environment and people in the school are the biggest factors in a student's ability to
sustain interest in school. Peers, instructors, and the school itself can affect us positively or negatively.
They can have a big impact on the students academic performance and well-being. For instance, peer
pressure can motivate students to strive for academic excellence. Observing their peers'
accomplishments and receiving recognition from their social group can create a healthy competitive
environment that encourages students to work harder, set higher goals, and achieve better results (Jain,
2023). It encourages students to take part in productive study practices, including attending group
study sessions or asking for assistance from peers, and it builds a feeling of accountability.

At last, the interest of the student will only start with themselves. The willingness to collaborate and
communicate, the efficiency and consistency to do well, and lastly, the acceptance of failures and new
lessons will only start with ourselves. I believe that putting passion into everything we do will always
make us eager to make things right, and to sustain interest in studies, we must make it our passion.

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 VII. Module 9: Values

Values have been instilled in us since we were young children. Learning about values begins at home
and in the community. To help us develop excellent character, schools also teach us a range of values.
The majority of our teachers, whom we refer to as the parents of the students, instill in us virtues like
humility, kindness, respect, and compassion. Since everything can be easily controlled thanks to
technology, teaching morals to children at an early age can help prevent the numerous crimes involving
technology.

There are several instances of demonstrating values with technology in the blog GoConqr. First,
students should understand the importance of acting responsibly and respectfully when using forums,
social media, or mobile devices. Similarly, good citizenship can now be equally applied to practicing
good digital citizenship, whereby students learn to avoid the misuse of information or to acknowledge
and respect others’ rights to peace and privacy. Showing tolerance and understanding to those less
fortunate. School is the ideal place to start teaching the correct values to refugees and develop an
understanding of different cultures around the world.

The University of the Northeastern Philippines, my own school, has new core values called
C-SHIELD, which stands for Compassion, Service, Humility, Integrity, Excellence, Leadership and
Discipline. The importance of these ideals was explained during the college orientation, and it boiled
down to one simple reason: to be a world-class achiever. To assist and serve the public as a good citizen.
Furthermore, the UNEP does a great job creating and executing this sort of order, with the sole goal
being to help the students become the greatest versions of themselves. As a student at UNEP, I'm
relieved that the institution has such a lofty mission and desire to be the greatest, and I know that the
faculty, staff, and students at UNEP will motivate and encourage me to achieve more.