Lectures
These are large classes, usually lasting around one hour, where a lecturer (or tutor) talks about a subject and the students take notes. On some courses there can be over a hundred students in a lecture. There is usually little or no opportunity to ask questions during the lecture. Lectures are usually intended to:
guide you through the course material by explaining the main points of a topic
introduce new topics for further study or debate
give the most up-to-date information that may not be included in textbooks.
Seminars
These are smaller classes where students and a tutor discuss a topic. Seminars often last longer than lectures. You will know in advance what the topic is, and the tutor will usually ask some students to prepare a short presentation for discussion. Seminars are usually intended to encourage debate about an issue. Both the tutor and students can express their opinions and may even disagree on certain points. This type of debate is actively encouraged. The aim is not for students to be told the "correct" answer, but to understand the different arguments and make judgements about their merits. This process helps you learn to analyse a topic critically.
Tutorials
These are meetings between a tutor and an individual student or small group of students. Tutorials are usually intended to give you more focussed guidance on:
a piece of work you are doing
a piece of work you have already completed
give a problem you may be having with a topic or with study methods
Practical Work
On many courses you will have practical workshops, for example, laboratories on science courses, performance classes in music or drama, a mock trial on a law course. On some courses (for example, geography) you may go on field trips away from the institution. You may work individually but more usually you will be part of a group. Practical classes are usually intended to give you practical experience of the theories you learn in other classes and to develop practical skills.
Teaching Methods in the UK
Workplace training
On some courses you will have training in a working environment, under the supervision of experienced staff (for example, working in a hospital on a nursing or medicine course). Other courses offer "sandwich" placements - an opportunity to spend time away from classes working in employment related to your course of study.
Independent study
On any course you will be expected to do some independent study. This usually involves working on your own (or sometimes in a small group with other students) to research a topic and produce written work, or make a presentation at a seminar. This is an integral part of UK academic culture. Independent study is intended to:
help you develop skills such as critical analysis and problem-solving
a piece develop your research skills (for example, finding relevent books and articles allow you to investigate a topic in more detail and develop your own ideas
Written work
You will almost certainly be asked to produce written work, usually through independent study. Written work may include:
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Essays
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A project or a dissertation (a long essay based on extensive independent research, data collection or experimentation)
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Assignment questions (for example, a series of mathematical problems
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Written work is often assessed. This may be to monitor your progress and identify areas for improvement or it may contribute to your overall mark or grade for the course.
Other projects and assignments
On some courses you may also be asked to produce work in other forms. For example, you may be asked to write a computer programe, prepare a poster presentation about a topic, or prepare practical work for evaluation.
Group work
You may be asked to undertake a piece of work jointly with other students, which may either lead to joint or separate assessment. Group work is designed to encourage team-working skills. If your group includes students from different countries, you may find you have different views and expectations about how work will be shared and decisions made. Group work can be a good way of learning about working in a multi-cultural environment.
Examinations and assessments
UK institutions use many different forms of assessment, including:
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"Closed" examinations, where you are not allowed to refer to books or notes and have a specific time to complete a certain number of questions
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"Open" examinations, where you can refer to books and notes and may even be able to take the question paper away and return it by a certain time
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Assessed essays, individual projects and dissertations
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Group work projects
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Portfolios (a collection of work)
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Presentations to a seminar
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A display or performance of work (for example, an art show or music performance)
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Practical assessments (for example, in laboratories or on hospital wards)
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Some courses are "continuously assessed", meaning that instead of examinations at the end of the year, your progress is assessed and marked throughout the year.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as your own. If you present the words or ideas of an author or another student without acknowledging the source, you could be accused of plagiarism. Whenever you use a quotation from a book, or reproduce an author’s ideas (even in your own words), you should indicate the source. This process is known as referencing. You may find the accepted ways of quoting and referencing work in the UK are different from those you are used to. Penalties for plagiarism, especially in assessed work and examinations, can be very severe, and may include failing the course. Most academic departments have a preferred style of referencing. Check with your tutor about how you should reference your work: don’t rely on the advice of other students/friends.
Seeking help
Lecturers and tutors will normally be available to provide help and advice on a very limited basis outside timetabled classes. You should try to ask your questions during tutorials or if the lecturer invites questions in lectures or seminars, use that time. You may be able to see staff during their "office hour", a designated time during the week when they are available to see students. Outside these times staff are likely to be very busy.
