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Download Document - Office for Learning and Teaching

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covered (or not covered well) in the textbook <strong>and</strong> study guide.11. Take a balanced teaching <strong>and</strong> learning approacho A combined student-centred <strong>and</strong> lecturer-centred approach should beadopted, especially <strong>for</strong> first year (or first semester/trimester)international students.o Students should be given sufficient training <strong>and</strong> opportunities tounderst<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> learn about the student-centred approach.o Emphasise the importance of correct referencing practices <strong>and</strong> theconsequences of poor/wrong practices.o Stress the importance of presentation, communication <strong>and</strong>interpersonal skills, <strong>and</strong> provide sufficient training to students,especially newly-arrived international students.o Students should be encouraged to participate in class discussions,which could be made compulsory. To facilitate <strong>and</strong> nurture theirconfidence in taking part in class discussions, lecturers should createan environment in which international students feel com<strong>for</strong>table toexpress their ideas, <strong>for</strong> instance, by asking questions they cananswer or are interested in, asking their opinions in relation to theirbackground <strong>and</strong> experiences, continually communicating to them thatparticipation <strong>and</strong> contributing to the class are what matter, notwhether their answers are correct or are in line with those of lecturersor other students.o Students should be encouraged, if not required, to take part in groupactivities. Lecturers can assign groups; alternatively students can<strong>for</strong>m their own groups subject to the approval of their lecturers. Thegroups (ideally less than five group members in each group) shouldbe assigned relative to their experience, background, <strong>and</strong> the coursethey are doing. A sample of group composition is attached in theAppendix Table 1.o Literature, lessons learned <strong>and</strong> best practice on group dynamics <strong>and</strong>development should be provided to students. In addition, a suggestedfour-stage framework could be adopted, a sample of which isprovided in Appendix Table 2.12. Suggest that students pay full attention to lectures with questions <strong>and</strong> doubtsarising from reading the study materials. They should only note some veryimportant points during the class, <strong>and</strong> organise the notes based on memoryof the lectures <strong>and</strong> own underst<strong>and</strong>ing immediately after the class.13. Recommend to students a learning circle of reading, listening, questioning,underst<strong>and</strong>ing, organising, practising, critical thinking <strong>and</strong> writing.14. Discuss with students the importance of having a plan in place <strong>and</strong> ofprioritising their tasks.o If possible, universities should offer training <strong>and</strong> seminars on projectmanagement <strong>and</strong> stress management skills to all students.15. Urge students to lead a balanced life while they are studying in Australia:study hard, have enough sleep, eat well, <strong>and</strong> exercise regularly.16. Finally lecturers <strong>and</strong> universities should tell international students that theyshould relax <strong>and</strong> have confidence in themselves!132

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