Teaching and Feedback in the Department of Economics and Related Studies

Department of Economics Teaching and Feedback in the Department of Economics and Related Studies Dr Fabrizio Iacone (senior lecturer) Chair, Chair, Departmental Teaching Committee Welcome meeting for new UG students 2016

Learning at University level Studying and learning at University level is different from what you have experienced at high school. There is a much stronger reliance on you doing independent work. This is consistent with what you will experience in your professional career, when you are given a task and you are expected to carry it out. However, we understand that this is a transitional stage, and we assist you in your work: independent work does not mean unassisted work.

Our teaching module Traditional lecture We plan our teaching as the integration of three different activities Traditional lecture Small group tutorials (classes) Office and feedback hours

Independent and assisted work: 1. Traditional Lecture We introduce the audience to the topics in the teaching material. After each lecture you should revise the teaching material with the help of the textbook. If you do not do it, you will quickly fall behind and catching up is much harder. Doing additional exercises is part of this revision. As part of this revision, it is possible that you may need some guidance and clarification: we offer this at office and feedback hours.

Independent and assisted work: 2. Tutorials / seminars / classes These are for small group (up to 16 people) to stimulate interaction. We will assign you some exercises to complete in advance. You must complete these exercises in advance, even when you are not required to hand these in for marking: the classes are designed assuming that you did the exercises, and you will loose a key opportunity for learning and feedback if you do not do it.

Independent and assisted work: 3. Office and feedback hours. As you revise, you will have questions and curiosities; you may even just want to check that your understanding of some matters is correct: this is perfectly normal, and we are looking forwards to meeting with you and discuss these matters. Academic research shows that students who attend office and feedback hours tend to have higher marks. Office and feedback hours are part of our structured teaching: we expect to receive students, you must not feel intimidated. Some modules will also have other, ad-hoc opportunities to foster discussion (for example, a VLE message board – VLE is the Virtual Learning Environment).

Feedback - 1 You will receive feedback in a number of ways. Some of these are familiar, but others are innovative with respect to what you experienced at high school. Written feedback on Small group tutorials. For some classes, you are required to submit the exercises in advance for marking. These will be marked and will receive additional written feedback. Office and feedback hours.

Feedback - 2 Guided solutions of exercises for Small group tutorials. These are posted on line. You should independently check if you are successfully keeping up with the pace of the lectures. Independent work. You should independently revise the topics covered in the lectures, and practice with some exercises of your choice from the reference textbooks. As many exercises from the reference textbooks also include a discussion of the solution, you can independently verify if you are successfully keeping up with the pace of the lectures.

Feedback - 3 Some modules also have Ad hoc on-line quizzes. Virtual Message Board. Cohort feedback on assignments and exams.

Thank you