International Student Orientation

Making the Most ofLectures and Tutorials

Dr Julia MillerSchool of Education

• Where is home for you?

• What are you studying?

• Did you go to university in your country?

Welcome to Adelaide

What do you think are the major differences between learning in your home country and learning in Australia?

◦Role of teacher

◦Student-centred approach

◦Critical thinking

◦Active learning

◦Independent learning

International Student Transition

1. Lectures

2. Note taking

3. Language clues

4. After the lecture

5. Seminars and tutorials

6. Other small-group formats

7. Practice

8. Reflection

Outline

What’s the difference between a lecture, a seminar and a tutorial?• Lecture - larger - varying interaction.

• Seminar - smaller - more interaction. Students may take it in turns to present.

• Tutorial - even smaller, with more interaction and discussion.

Lectures, seminars and tutorials

1. Lecture formats

• Stand up and talk• Stand up and talk with PowerPoint• Engage students by questions• Discuss things with students

Getting the most out of your lectures

Prepare:

• Readings• Revision• Location• Equipment

Engage

• Listen• Consider• Question• Think

2. Note taking in lectures

• Don’t try to write everything down.• Don’t simply copy the PowerPoint slides. • Do listen before you start to write.

Note

• Abbreviations (eg abbrs)• Short phrases, not sentences• symbols• Look for possible exam topics

Mind map

Action column

Choc from Mexico

Media egs – newspaper, mags

Reps of choc in media

Health problems

Oral pres.

More egs?

Signif?

Problems with note taking

The lecturer is too fast

• Write down questions for later• Try to follow the structure• Prepare before the lecture

You don’t understand

• Write down your question.• Ask - lecturer

- tutor- other students

• Check - readings- topic guide

3. Language clues

Start of lecture• Let’s start with . . .• The first thing . . .• Today we’ll be looking at . . .• I’d like to think about . . .

Topic shifters• So let's turn to . . .• The next thing . . .• Now I'd like to consider . . .• Another important point is . . .

More language clues

Summarisers• So now we can see . . .• Let's round this off . . .• What have we been looking at this

afternoon?

Exemplifiers• One example is . . . • If we look at X we can see that Y . . .

More language clues

Relators• This ties in with . . .• This relates to . . .• Keep in mind that . . .• OK (falling intonation, pause) . . .

Evaluators• No problem with that . . .• This all looks fine . . .• This is an important point . . .

More language cluesQualifiers• This is true, but . . .• That's all very well, but . . .• Having said that, . . .• Although . . .• As far as we know . . .

Asides• Where were we?• That reminds me of . . .(All language clues are from DeCarrico, J & Nattinger, JR 1988, 'Lexical phrases for the comprehension

of academic lectures’, English for Specific Purposes, vol. 7, pp. 91-102.)

4. After the lecture

• Read• Highlight• Summarise• Discuss• Look for possible exam questions• Revise before the next lecture

What do you remember?

1 hour 24 hours 7 days 1 month0

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100

Lecture

• How could you participate?o Prepare – do the readingso Ask questionso Sit near the fronto Join in group discussions

5. Seminars and tutorials

Laboratories

• Science-based

• Bigger and longer than most tutorials

• Focus on processes: using equipment, conducting experiments

• Run by demonstrators

6. Other small-group formats

• Listen carefully to safety procedures and always follow them exactly.

• Treat all equipment, chemicals and samples with care and respect.

• Don’t take food or beverages into a lab (unless they’re part of your experiment!).

• Wear protective clothing when appropriate, and especially wear appropriate shoes (sturdy, closed-in with non-slip sole).

Laboratory Health and Safety

Workshops:

• Like tutorials, but even more active (i.e. you do more work)

• You will often be asked to complete a piece of work or bring one with you

• You will then share it with others in the workshop

• Example: creative writing workshop

Different Small-Group formats

• Conference (experts in a field)

• Symposium (like a conference but smaller)

Papers: like a seminar – 20 minute presentation followed by questions

Posters: on display and author is available to answer questions

More advanced formats

7. Practice

Practise taking notes with:1. a mind map2. an action column

8. Reflection What 2 things will you remember from this

session? Is anything still unclear?

Writing Centre learning guides: www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre

Further practice:http://www.uefap.com/listen/listfram.htm

Further listening practice Recorded lectures on My Uni Radio 5RPH on frequency 1197 (AM) for

readings of The Advertiser and The Australian

Writing Centre

Location: Level 3, Hub Central East

Website: www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre

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