Download Document - Office for Learning and Teaching

lecturer, and one of them like the combined method. Following are some of thecomments:“The most effective teaching method I have come across is when the teacherinvolves the students with practical examples and helping to resolve a problem.”“The most effective teaching methods I have come across is when a variety ofmethods are used.”“Personally, for me I think copying down notes from lecture slides as well assupplementing that with additional information in lectures is the most effectivemeans.”(2) Can you tell me which teaching method(s) you have come across are the leasteffective?Only one student felt it was the least effective when the lecturer talks very fast anddoesn’t use original materials. All the rest of the students thought the least effectivemethod was when the teacher just read their slides or lecture notes. For example,one student commented, “The least effective teaching method is where they just sitthere and read what they have placed on a slide”, and another student commented,“The least effective method I have come across is when the teacher just reads fromtheir notes and does not involve the class at all”.(3) Do you think different teaching methods should be applied to local andinternational students? Why / why not?There were three main groups of ideas. The first was that local and internationalstudents should be taught via different methods. One of them commented, “Yes I dothink…international students may have a bit of trouble to understand what they aregoing on about…when a teacher is using Australian slang…some teachers talk at afast pac .The second group disagreed on different teaching methods between localand international students. One of the comments was, “No I think the same teachingmethods … I have attended lectures where there are many international studentsand we all seem to learn quite well in the same environment”. The third group alsodisagreed on different teaching methods, but they believed that more attentionshould be given to international students’ language or culture problems. One studentcommented, “In most circumstances I believe … However if a language barrierexists then I believe different teaching methods should be implemented”.(4) Do you ask many questions in class? Why / why not?Local students’ responses to this question can be divided into several categories.The first group always asks questions; one student commented, “Yes I do ask a lotof questions in class as I find it helpful to get the teacher to slow down … so that Ican get an idea of … and also …can also help others to also understand”. Thesecond group asks questions only if necessary; one of them commented, “I do notregularly ask questions in class unless I am having a particularly difficult timeunderstanding the basic concepts”. The third group never asks questions in lectures;they prefer sending emails, asking during breaks or just leaving it until the tutorial;one of them commented, “I study externally so if I have a question I e-mail”.(5) Do you think students should be given more opportunities to ask questions inclass?There were two groups of opinions. Four of the seven students thought they shouldbe given more opportunities to ask questions; one of them commented, “Yes I dothink that they should be given more time to answers questions in class”. The otherthree believed that they have had enough opportunities to ask questions in class.One commented like this: “A student is already given plenty of opportunity to askquestions from the classes I have attended”.(6) Do you think it is important for students to actively engage in the classroomdiscussions in your learning? Why /why not?All of the seven local students agreed on this; one of them commented, “Yes I do86