Overview of Lectures
and Tutorials
How to keep notes in lectures?
Many lecturers upload notes on to blackboard for you to download,
read and make additional notes to during the lecture, others
simply handout hard-copies of the material at the lecture.
If you are not given notes, then it’s important to just
jot down points of the main ideas presented. Also consider
options such as taping the lecture if you’re not good
at note taking. However, doing the assigned readings before
a lecture, considering how a lecture topic fits into your
course and going over the notes (if available) will make note
taking much easier. It’s also a good idea to read over
your notes and expand on them after the lecture so that you
are sure you understand the main points. Make sure you file
these notes appropriately for revision closer to exam dates!
What to expect in tutorials?
Tutorials are different to lectures in that they are more
likely to involve class discussions, presentations and group
work. It’s a time to ask questions, express your knowledge
and get to know your fellow students. Most first year students
really enjoy tutes as they are more similar to school classes
and they can be a lot more social than lectures. Your tutor
is there to help you understand the tutorial information,
prepare for major assignments, facilitate class discussions
and offer consultation times. Your tutor is likely to give
you his or her contact details in the first session so make
a note of this and respect their wishes for contact availability
and times. Always find out the attendance requirement of each
of your tutes as attending a certain amount of classes may
be compulsory to pass the subject.
Staff comments
As a tutor/lecturer, I wish students would be in
class on time, and I am driven crazy by them talking when
I want to talk! Pedagogically, they would be better off in
lectures if they've read the chapter before the lecture, take
minimal notes (especially if there is a lecture outline on
BB) or use the Powerpoint (if provided) to structure note-taking,
and expand their notes within a week of the lecture into a
form suitable for later revision. In tutes, I like it when
students ask questions (no such thing as a stupid question!),
offer opinions (but don't dominate classes), try and relate
material to their own experience and actively participate
in small group discussion (on the topic, not social chit-chat!!).
As a tutor, it’s frustrating when students chat
to each other and interrupt class discussions. Keen students
also find this frustrating! I think that class debates are
great but can be boring when only a few have read the appropriate
material or made any effort to familiarise themselves with
the topic. Reading the material before the tutes makes a HUGE
difference. I like to see study groups develop and it’s
great to see friendships evolve over the course of a degree!
I believe that students get a lot out of sharing their thoughts,
ideas and previous experience….it should be encouraged
in all tutes!
As a lecturer and tutor, Students should realise that
while their sole focus at Year 12 has been to get into a uni
course of their choice, this is not the end: it is just the
beginning and they should be prepared to hit the floor running.
Many students do not realise this until too late. This is
compounded by uni lecturers not putting on the pressure to
work they are used to at School. This isn't because we do
not care: we are trying to instil a sense of responsibility.
When students have a problem affecting their studies such
as depression, friction at home, boyfriend/girlfriend woes,
money troubles, drugs ... the university wants to help and
offers help. With young men especially, they feel that they
have to cope by themselves. So when they are eventually forced
to seek help, and this often surfaces at Progress Review Panel,
it is very late, certainly too late to save that year's results.
The message is that it is not weak to seek help; it is stupid
not to.
Students should go to all classes, do all the assignments
and do them NOW. Do not put pressure on yourself by leaving
assignments to the last minute. You will get no sympathy.
This is another aspect of the responsibility we are trying
to instil.
Get into a Study Group. We know it can be hard to form one
or enter one as you may be shy. But to survive uni you MUST
do this eventually. The Study Group members need not be your
drinking friends, but they should be students you can trust
to do the work.
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