{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T14:46:31Z","timestamp":1782744391574,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782691200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontierspartnerships.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Br. J. Biomed. Sci."],"abstract":"\n Introduction<\/jats:title>\n The growing diversity of university student populations highlights the critical need for inclusive support strategies. Student outcomes often remain linked to socio-economic factors and Level 3 qualifications, challenging universities to create equitable learning environments, particularly for foundational skills like quantitative analysis. This study investigated the impact of widening participation (WP) characteristics on student engagement with, and perceptions of, novel asynchronous digital Smart Worksheets developed by LearnSci in collaboration with the Institute of Biomedical Science.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n Students (N = 779) enrolled on Biomedical Science modules in Level 3 to 6\u00a0at Northumbria University UK, were surveyed to gauge perceived calculation confidence, extracurricular commitments and intent to use the Smart Worksheets. Following deployment of the Smart Worksheets, students were surveyed again to correlate intention versus actual usage, explore the influence of WP characteristics and elucidate other factors that affected engagement.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Surprisingly, perceived course engagement and initial calculation confidence was generally high. Students with multiple WP characteristics, however, reported significantly lower calculation confidence (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.002). While 93.9% of students expressed strong intent to use the resources, only 20% engaged. Further exploration revealed the primary barriers were resource awareness and time availability, with extracurricular commitments increasing from Level 3 to 6, culminating in 86.1% of Level 6 students having work or caring responsibilities. Regardless of initial confidence, students consistently rated the Smart Worksheet content as appropriate and their content as highly valuable.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Discussion<\/jats:title>\n These findings suggest that students\u2019 extracurricular commitments are escalating throughout their university careers, challenging traditional assumptions about final year students being more autonomous and needing less support. Flexible, high-value resources are crucial for time-poor students, addressing engagement barriers that are primarily time and capacity-related. This study underscores the increasing need for comprehensive and clearly communicated support mechanisms for all students navigating an increasingly complex academic, financial and personal landscape.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/bjbs.2026.15078","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T14:20:34Z","timestamp":1782742834000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Supporting quantitative skills in biomedical science with smart worksheets: intentions, impact and barriers to engagement"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"83","author":[{"given":"Leanne","family":"Williams","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick","place":["Coventry, United Kingdom"]},{"name":"LearnSci","place":["Bristol, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emily","family":"Coyte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LearnSci","place":["Bristol, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sue","family":"Jones","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Education, Institute of Biomedical Science","place":["London, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Stephany","family":"Veuger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Geography and Natural Sciences, Northumbria University","place":["Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"Who\u2019s Studying in HE?","year":"2025"},{"key":"B2","unstructured":"UCAS releases undergraduate end of cycle data for 2024 | UCAS\n \n \n 2024"},{"key":"B3","unstructured":"Who\u2019s working in HE? | HESA\n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B4","unstructured":"Universities grip financial crisis \u2013 but at what cost to the 4 nation? Universities UK\n \n \n \n Universities\n UK\n \n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B5","unstructured":"A level and other 16 to 18 results, academic year 2023\/24\n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B6","volume-title":"Students with Btecs are Successful Across a Range of University Outcomes","author":"Dilnot","year":"2022"},{"key":"B7","unstructured":"Inequalities in level 3 attainment\n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B8","volume-title":"English Indices of Deprivation 2025: Frequently Asked Questions","year":"2025"},{"key":"B9","unstructured":"Degree attainment by socioeconomic background: UK, 2017\/18 to 2020\/21 | HESA\n \n \n 2023"},{"key":"B10","unstructured":"Access and participation plan 2024-25 to 2027-28\n \n \n 2024"},{"key":"B11","unstructured":"Tundra methodology\n \n \n 2019"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1177\/0038038509345700","article-title":"Strangers in paradise","volume":"43","author":"Reay","year":"2009","journal-title":"Br Sociological Soc"},{"key":"B13","article-title":"Part-time, distance learner and commuter students","author":"Frampton","year":"2023","journal-title":"Student Minds"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1870","DOI":"10.1098\/rstb.2021.0357","article-title":"Learning from others is good, with others is better: the role of social interaction in human acquisition of new knowledge","volume":"378","author":"De Felice","year":"2022","journal-title":"Philosophical Trans R Soc B: Biol Sci"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"159","DOI":"10.1080\/03050068.2020.1805863","article-title":"The multiple meanings of \u2018student-centred\u2019 or \u2018learner-centred\u2019 education, and the case for a more flexible approach to defining it","volume":"57","author":"Bremner","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comp Educ"},{"key":"B16","volume-title":"Mind in Society: Development of Higher Psychological Processes","author":"Vygotsky","year":"1978"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.5688\/ajpe787144","article-title":"The fact of ignorance: revisiting the Socratic method as a tool for teaching critical thinking","volume":"78","author":"Oyler","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am J Pharm Educ"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.1080\/00131881.2019.1660587","article-title":"Determinants of university students\u2019 attendance","volume":"61","author":"Moores","year":"2019","journal-title":"Educ Res"},{"key":"B19","article-title":"UK engagement survey: analysis and insights from 2023","author":"Quinn","year":"2023","journal-title":"Adv HE"},{"key":"B20","unstructured":"Student academic experience survey 2023. HEPIand advanced HE\n \n \n \n Neves\n J\n \n \n Stephenson\n R\n \n \n \n 2023"},{"key":"B21","volume-title":"Reforming Student Maintenance","year":"2024"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"375","DOI":"10.1080\/13562517.2023.2249401","article-title":"Student-ready critical care pedagogy: a student-centred instructional approach for struggling students","volume":"30","author":"Collins-Warfield","year":"2023","journal-title":"Teach Higher Educ"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1080\/00461520.1998.9653292","article-title":"Academic studing and the development of personal skill: a self-regulatory perspective","volume":"33","author":"Zimmerman","year":"1998","journal-title":"Educ Psychol"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1207\/s15430421tip4102_2","article-title":"Becoming a self-regulated learner: an overview","volume":"41","author":"Zimmerman","year":"2002","journal-title":"Theor Into Pract"},{"key":"B25","article-title":"Where do HE students study?","year":"2025","journal-title":"HESA"},{"key":"B26","unstructured":"Local indicators for the North East (E12000001)\u2014ONS\n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B27","volume-title":"Student Data: EDI Report 2023-24","year":"2025"},{"key":"B28","unstructured":"Subject benchmark statement\u2014biomedical science and biomedical sciences\n \n \n 2023"},{"key":"B29","volume-title":"Become IBMS Accredited: For Course Leaders","year":"2026"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"311","DOI":"10.2147\/PRBM.S141421","article-title":"Spotlight on math anxiety","volume":"11","author":"Luttenberger","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychol Res Behav Manage"},{"key":"B31","unstructured":"What do HE students study? Personal characteristics | HESA\n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"347","DOI":"10.1007\/BF00138871","article-title":"Enhancing teaching through constructive alignment","volume":"32","author":"Biggs","year":"1996","journal-title":"Higher Educ"},{"key":"B33","volume-title":"Taxonomy of Educational Objectives","author":"Bloom","year":"1956"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"212","DOI":"10.1207\/s15430421tip4104_2","article-title":"A revision of bloom\u2019s taxonomy: an overview","volume":"41","author":"Krathwohl","year":"2002","journal-title":"Theor Into Pract"},{"key":"B35","first-page":"220","article-title":"A revision to the revised Bloom\u2019s taxonomy","volume-title":"38","author":"Darwazeh","year":"2015"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1735","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.3c00934","article-title":"Smart worksheets and their positive impact on a second-year chemical kinetics course","volume":"101","author":"Shallcross","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1062","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.4c00705","article-title":"Smart worksheets and their positive impact on a first-year quantitative chemistry course","volume":"102","author":"Shallcross","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4094","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.1c00853","article-title":"Unique data sets and bespoke laboratory videos: teaching and assessing of experimental methods and data analysis in a pandemic","volume":"98","author":"Harmer","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3514","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.4c00308","article-title":"Paired online laboratory assessments: formative engagement and summative attainment","volume":"101","author":"Coyte","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.jchemed.1c00362","article-title":"Using an inclusive curriculum framework to address an awarding gap in a first-year chemistry module","volume":"99","author":"Williams","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Chem Educ"},{"key":"B41","volume-title":"Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: The Classification of Educational Goals. Handbook II: Affective Domain","author":"Krathwohl","year":"1964"},{"key":"B42","volume-title":"Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory","author":"Bandura","year":"1986"},{"key":"B43","volume-title":"Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control","author":"Bandura","year":"1997"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"17","DOI":"10.1038\/s41539-021-00095-7","article-title":"First-year students\u2019 math anxiety predicts STEM avoidance and underperformance throughout university, independently of math ability","volume":"6","author":"Daker","year":"2021","journal-title":"Npj Sci Learn"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1277","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732305276687","article-title":"Three approaches to qualitative content analysis","volume":"15","author":"Hsieh","year":"2005","journal-title":"Qual Health Res"},{"key":"B46","article-title":"Can students be bothered to come to campus?","author":"Dickinson","year":"2023","journal-title":"Wonkhe"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1007\/s10648-026-10119-6","article-title":"Transforming self-regulated learning \u2013 multimodal insights and future directions","volume":"38","author":"Seufert","year":"2026","journal-title":"Educ Psychol Rev"},{"key":"B48","article-title":"Why aren\u2019t students engaging any more?","author":"Marshall","year":"2024","journal-title":"Wonkhe"},{"key":"B49","unstructured":"The game of academic privilege: exploring differential attainment at the university of Manchester\n \n \n \n Finn\n PG\n \n \n Twyford\n DJ\n \n \n Shomali\n DA\n \n \n Danquah\n A\n \n \n \n 2025"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"454","DOI":"10.18060\/24963","article-title":"The intersection of sense of belonging and financial hardship among university students: social work educators\u2019 response","volume":"22","author":"Taylor","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv Social Work"},{"key":"B51","unstructured":"Student academic experience survey 2024. HEPI\n \n \n \n Neves\n J\n \n \n Freeman\n J\n \n \n Stephenson\n R\n \n \n Sotiropoulou\n DP\n \n \n \n 2024"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121","DOI":"10.1080\/00071005.2015.1006574","article-title":"Developing resilient agency in learning: the internal structure of learning power","volume":"63","author":"Deakin Crick","year":"2015","journal-title":"Br J Educ Stud"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.53761\/1.19.2.9","article-title":"Prioritising lifeload over learning load: understanding post-pandemic student engagement","volume":"19","author":"Hews","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Univ Teach Learn Pract"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2","DOI":"10.66561\/sehej.v5i2.1205","article-title":"Riding the carousel: examining the intersectionality of students\u2019 identities and student\u2019s lifeload as factors impacting their attendance and engagement behaviours","volume":"5","author":"Korby-Hawkins","year":"2024","journal-title":"Student Engagement Higher Educ J"},{"key":"B55","volume-title":"Data Lag and Ambition Aggregation Means Apps are Fundamentally Flawed","author":"Dickinson","year":"2025"},{"key":"B56","unstructured":"Student voices: experiences of the rising cost of living\u2014Office for national statistics\n \n \n 2023"},{"key":"B57","volume-title":"Cost of Living and Higher Education Students","author":"Johnston","year":"2023"},{"key":"B58","unstructured":"Latest from belong \u2013 students are earning, but what are we learning? Wonkhe\n \n \n \n Dickinson\n J\n \n \n \n 2024"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14048","DOI":"10.3389\/bjbs.2024.14048","article-title":"Generative AI in higher education: balancing innovation and integrity","volume":"81","author":"Francis","year":"2025","journal-title":"Br J Biomed Sci"}],"container-title":["British Journal of Biomedical Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontierspartnerships.org\/articles\/10.3389\/bjbs.2026.15078\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]],"date-time":"2026-06-29T14:21:00Z","timestamp":1782742860000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontierspartnerships.org\/articles\/10.3389\/bjbs.2026.15078\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"references-count":59,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/bjbs.2026.15078"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/bjbs.2026.15078","relation":{},"ISSN":["2474-0896"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2474-0896","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,29]]},"article-number":"15078"}}