Understanding Our Students Kam-Por Kwan Senior Officer (Educational Development)   P REPARING T O T EACH : Introductory Programme for New Teaching Staff

ObjectivesObjectives To develop a better understanding of our students in terms of : –what they want from university education –their general academic ability –how they normally go about their studies –what they expect from their teachers To discuss the implications of the student characteristics for teaching

What are our students like?

Identifying profile of PolyU students Task 1: Paired discussion (10 minutes) Based on either your experience or expectation, draw up the profile of a typical student in your own course: Why do they enroll in your course? What able are they academically? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How do they go about their studies? What do they expect from their teachers?

What students expect from university education? What do students want to get from university education ?

Goals of university education [ 1= little importance 2= some3= high importance] Source: SAO, PolyU (1998)

Understanding students’ goals Students have multiple goals: –Passing exams / getting a qualification –Gaining social approval / status –Acquiring subject /professional knowledge and skills –Developing generic skills: interpersonal skills, problem-solving, creativity, etc. –Achieving personal development: self confidence, sense of achievement, moral development, etc.

Students’ goals are not fixed Students’ goals have important effects on their learning Students’ goals change in the course of their study Goals are affected by the student’s feeling of his/her achieving the goals or otherwise in a particular learning situation If students are denied the chance to achieve higher-level goals, they may turn to lower-level ones

Helping students to achieve goals Task 2: Group discussion (10 minutes) What can we do to help students realize and achieve the desirable goals of university education?

Helping students achieve their goals Explain the ‘whys’ of learning tasks Emphasize thinking and problem-solving rather then memorization and recall Focus on process as well as outcomes of learning Encourage collaborative group learning Give students autonomy and choice Ensure reasonable workload

General academic ability Score point average of the best 2 subjects of admitted students Source: MIO, PolyU (1996) [ A= 5 B= 4 C= 3 D= 2 E= 1 F= 0 ]

Self-perceived ability Source: SAO, PolyU (1998) [ 1= lowest 4= highest ]

Helping student to learn Task 3: Group discussion (10 minutes) What are the major things we need to consider in planning our teaching? How can we help this group of students to learn effectively at university?

Some strategies 4 Have a realistic expectation of the ability of your students 4 Check initial knowledge 4 Help students to ‘bridge’ their knowledge 4 Give appropriate reading materials 4 Proceed progressively in teaching: 4move from fundamentals to more complex 4from more guidance to more independent 4 Teach students how to learn 4 Help students develop confidence

How students go about their studies Hong Kong students are heavily assessment- driven in their learning Students may approach their learning differently in different subjects: depending on their perception of the demand of the learning situation: –surface approach –deep approach –achieving approach

How students spend their time Average no. of hours per week spent on various activities Source: “A Week in the Life of a Hong Kong Student” Project

Getting students engaged Students are more likely to engage in learning task that they are interested in and have confidence of successful completion: 4Clear instructions on what, how and when 4Manageable tasks and reasonable deadline 4Appeal to personal interest or needs 4Choice and autonomy 4Feedback on progress

What students expect from their teachers What do students expect from their teachers?

Good university teaching in the eyes of students Head 4Knowledge and expertise 4Personal experience and insights 4Able to help students understand Hand 4Teaching skills: presentation and questioning skills, etc. 4Teach students to think Heart 4Concern for students’ learning and well-being 4Empathy and support

ConclusionConclusion Teaching is about helping students learn Teaching is most effective when: –it is pitched at the right level for the students –it matches with students’ goals and expectations –it encourages the engagement of the students in the learning process –students feel respected and achieving Need to consider the characteristics of your students