Abstract

The present study shows the results of a research carried out by the Schools of Nursing, Agronomy and Veterinary of the Universidad del Pacífico – Chile, in its head office in Melipilla. A number of 320 students in the first year was used as a sample in a period comprising years 2008 and 2009. The variables measured in this research are the academic performance, the learning styles, according to Kolb, and the drop-out rate. This study is included within a project which was approved by the fund for the development of teaching, which in turn was approved by the Academic Council of Universidad del Pacífico. The name of this research is METHODOLOGIES IN THE CLASSROOM THAT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE UNDER CONDITIONS OF LOW DROP-OUT FOR STUDENTS IN THE FIRST YEAR. A selection index was specifically created for this study, which measures percentage distance between successful and unsuccessful students. All this was helpful to distinguish the subjects being in historical risk of failing. On the other hand, information was obtained from the results of the learning styles carried out each year following the first test, and the drop-out rates taken from the Administration and Management System (SGA). After analyzing all the information, it was determined that the cross-curricular subjects of Chemestry and Biology will become subjects under study due to their low historical performance. It was also determined that in the case of the school of Nursing, the learning styles were further oriented to Accustomed students (20%), Assimilating students (26%), Diverging students (26%) and combinations of styles (28%). In the case of the School of Agronomy, the orientation was Accustomed students (15%), Diverging students (30%) and combinations of styles (55%). In the case of the School of Veterinary, the orientation was Accustomed students (15%), Assimilating students (26%), Diverging students (45%) and combinations of styles (14%). The drop-out rates were near the 21% in 2009 and 18% in 2008. The results of the research evidenced that the activities performed in the classrooms have no direct relationship with this group of beginning students. Because of this, Methodologies harmonizing with the Educational Model of the University were analyzed in the State of Art in order to support all these styles, looking forward to improving the student’s performance and decreasing the drop-out rates for the year 2010.