BEARING OF PREVIOUS LEARNING IN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

This study is a demonstration of the existing relationship between students previous Academic Performance and quality of education. The final goal was to find out the incidence of previous learning in the Academic Performance of students registered in the Odontología Integral Niños course. This course is in the fifth University year and belongs to the Departments of Odontology of Rehabilitation and of Social and Preventive Odontology. It includes three parts: parts I and II are taught in the first term of the year and part III is taught in the second term of the year. Total number of Odontology courses is N= 60; and the total number of courses before the fifth year is N= 54. As indicative of Academic Performance were used the note averages from an evaluation of knowledge, behavior, values and abilities. This analysis was done for all the students participating in the 2006 Odontología Integral Niños I course. The following variables were analyzed:  a) Number of courses with passed final examination, b) Average of courses with passed final examination, c) Number of previous obligatory courses with passed final examination, d) Average of previous obligatory courses with passed final examination. The average note of 273 students, obtained during the first part of the Odontología Integral Niños course, and values for all variables under study were obtained from certificates provided by the FOCALP. All data were analyzed using simple regression statistics. Results: a) the correlation coefficient is 0,0498735 and there is not significant correlation between PROM and NMAT with a confidence level of 90%, b)  the correlation coefficient is 0,34815, showing a weak relationship between the variables, c) the correlation coefficient is 0,170143, showing a weak relationship between the variables, d) the correlation coefficient is 0,338889, indicative of a weak relationship between the variables. Conclusion: The number of previous courses with passed final examination is not significant with regard to the obtained average. The other variables are significant with regard to the average obtained in the course. Key words: Academic Performance- Learning- education quality.