Discuss
Academic Skills
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/courageous-college-student-participates-class-discussion-despite-not-doing-the-reading
Discuss
Academic Skills
Groups of 3‐4: Introduce yourself What are you studying? Where are you from? What do you think the expectations are on you in terms of classroom **What’s a ‘tute’? participation? How are you feeling about participating in a ‘tute’**?
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
A tutorial (‘tute’) is a smaller class than a lecture, more interactive
1
Academic Skills
Today Australian academic culture Expectations of students and tutors Practical strategies to help you Practice! My expectation: for you to participate and enjoy yourself!
Academic Skills
CHALLENGES FOR US Comparing ‐ “Back home …” It’s better/worse vs It’s different Acceptance of difference Broad‐minded attitude Generalisations ‐ “Australians are …”
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
2
Academic Skills
The Australian academic context A student asks the lecturer a question. The lecturer (Professor Ross Jones) does not answer, but looks around and asks you, “What do you think?” Questions: What do you think about the Professor’s behaviour? He seems friendly and says, ‘Call me Ross.’ What do you call him? Other students openly disagree with some of the things he says, what do you think of this? http://www.dartreview.com/the-guest-lecturer/
Academic Skills
This lecturer is... • • •
• •
Lazy and rude Poorly qualified Doesn’t know the material A bad teacher “What is he being paid to do?”
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
or ... • • • • •
Involving the students Supervising shared learning Encouraging critical thinking Using recommended teaching strategies
3
Academic Skills
Australian academic culture Q: What do you know of Australian academic culture?
Classes: Lectures – tutorials – seminars Formality Talking to teachers Names – titles Participation Assessment Your work ‐ plagiarism https://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/australia/city/melbourne/viewUniversity
Discussion
Academic Skills
Q: What is the attitude to these statements in your culture? Students are encouraged to express their opinions in class. Students can openly disagree with the tutor on academic issues. Students can address tutors and lecturers by their first names.
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
4
Academic Skills Issues? Challenges to communication?
Vocabulary (technical, obscure?) Power distance: btw you & tchr / btw you & other sts Level of formality / informality Speaking speed / Accent Idiom, slang: ‘gonna’, ‘wanna’, ‘tute’ E.g. Written: ‘I just want to say that …’ Spoken: “I juswanna saythet …” Jargon terms / technical words English Confidence
What can you do?
Academic Skills
Be prepared – how? reading getting to class (on time!) Participate – how? actively listen show interest – how? be willing to contribute – speak Try not just to stay in your cultural group Engage with the classes and other people https://student.unsw.edu.au/sites/all/files/styles/inline_image/public/page_image/guide-to-discussion-skills-for-unsw-students.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
5
Academic Skills Practical strategy: Prepare
KEY POINT: Make sure you know the weekly tutorial topic! Q: Where do you find this information? LMS Do the reading: ‘required’ vs ‘recommended’ vs ‘further’ Identify the main issues Actual think about the topic: what do you know/don’t know? Plan comments & questions for the tutorial HOW? Make notes
Read actively:
Academic Skills
Do something with texts Mark up – take notes Don’t just highlight It’s a colouring activity
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
6
Academic Skills Practical strategy: Practise
Practise saying your comments and questions macquariedictionary.com.au.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au
Check the pronunciation of key words you will need to say.
TIP: Form a study group – meet regularly, discuss the subject
Academic Skills In class ‐ Observe actively
What are you observing – what are you looking for? Notice how others … enter into discussion ask questions disagree with or support a viewpoint make critical comments interrupt politely disagree signal to make a point https://thesalesmaster.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/observe-look-magnifying-glass1.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
7
Listen actively
Academic Skills
Listen for signals Listen carefully … Let me repeat that … Now, this is important … To summarise … Watch the speaker Body language can help understanding Ask questions Ask if you don’t know The ‘dumb’ question is often the one everybody is thinking of! http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9PoEWpBEhFA/THtvPKuJBII/AAAAAAAABOY/A0utpdxikTw/s400/Female-lecturers111.jpg http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/171/207/78036480.jpg?w=600&h=600&keep_ratio=1&webp=1
Academic Skills
Participate and Discuss
Things you might do: try to enter the discussion answer a question to put to the group provide an example for a point under discussion disagree or agree with a point made voice an opinion to an issue raised interrupt with an idea Think about some of the language you might use to do this
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
8
Academic Skills
Entering a discussion: language Could I just make a point? Could I say something….? Ah, I’d like to say… Yes, I agree and I’d like to add…. Can I ask…? Oh really? That’s an interesting point, however, …
Academic Skills
Entering a discussion Participate ‐ try Start small: Agree with someone Ask for more information Ask a question ‘That’s a great point!’ ‘A good example of that is …’ ‘I’d like to agree with that …’ http://www.otago.ac.nz/prodcons/groups/public/@aquinas/documents/contributorimg/otago037784.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
9
Academic Skills
Useful language: opinion – layered approach 1. Opinion I believe that … In my opinion … It seems to me that … 2. Reason This is because … I say that because … I think so because … 3. Support An example of this is … This can be seen in … Author name argues that … (spoken citation!)
Take notes
Academic Skills
Summarise ‐ Do NOT try to note down everything Re‐form & use some of your words: paraphrasing SO Develop a system of notetaking that works for you It has to be useable in the lecture to keep up AND later, when you revise
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
10
Academic Skills Speak to your academic staff
Talk to them Catch after class, but … Contact in office hours Email ‐ ask, don’t demand Correct title Who you are Why contacting What you want (polite) I’m hoping you can … I’d appreciate it if … http://news.wfu.edu/files/2014/03/photo-10.jpg http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jeffreyn/class/05771/door/101-0119_IMG.JPG
Academic Skills
After the tutorial …
http://cdn2.mhpbooks.com/2016/02/google.jpg http://howlandechoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/6009__2776__youtube-logo-full_color.jpeg https://theunboundself.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/ted-logo-678x278.png http://www.historygraphicdesign.com/images/00001/r73.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Cnn.svg/1280px-Cnn.svg.png
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
11
Academic Skills
Services http://students.unimelb.edu.au/get‐ started/undergraduate‐international Go to Orientation activities and get involved – meet people
Practice tutorial
Academic Skills
How do you meet people on campus? Topic: The best way to meet people on campus is to join a sports club
Think about your position on this from both sides – what are the pros and cons? http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/news/images/AUG_2013.jpg http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/images/Mugars_Scholarship_Recipients.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
12
Academic Skills
Academic Skills
We value your feedback Survey can be found at http://go.unimelb.edu.au/on46
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
13
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/courageous-college-student-participates-class-discussion-despite-not-doing-the-reading
Discuss
Academic Skills
Groups of 3‐4: Introduce yourself What are you studying? Where are you from? What do you think the expectations are on you in terms of classroom **What’s a ‘tute’? participation? How are you feeling about participating in a ‘tute’**?
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
A tutorial (‘tute’) is a smaller class than a lecture, more interactive
1
Academic Skills
Today Australian academic culture Expectations of students and tutors Practical strategies to help you Practice! My expectation: for you to participate and enjoy yourself!
Academic Skills
CHALLENGES FOR US Comparing ‐ “Back home …” It’s better/worse vs It’s different Acceptance of difference Broad‐minded attitude Generalisations ‐ “Australians are …”
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
2
Academic Skills
The Australian academic context A student asks the lecturer a question. The lecturer (Professor Ross Jones) does not answer, but looks around and asks you, “What do you think?” Questions: What do you think about the Professor’s behaviour? He seems friendly and says, ‘Call me Ross.’ What do you call him? Other students openly disagree with some of the things he says, what do you think of this? http://www.dartreview.com/the-guest-lecturer/
Academic Skills
This lecturer is... • • •
• •
Lazy and rude Poorly qualified Doesn’t know the material A bad teacher “What is he being paid to do?”
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
or ... • • • • •
Involving the students Supervising shared learning Encouraging critical thinking Using recommended teaching strategies
3
Academic Skills
Australian academic culture Q: What do you know of Australian academic culture?
Classes: Lectures – tutorials – seminars Formality Talking to teachers Names – titles Participation Assessment Your work ‐ plagiarism https://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/australia/city/melbourne/viewUniversity
Discussion
Academic Skills
Q: What is the attitude to these statements in your culture? Students are encouraged to express their opinions in class. Students can openly disagree with the tutor on academic issues. Students can address tutors and lecturers by their first names.
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
4
Academic Skills Issues? Challenges to communication?
Vocabulary (technical, obscure?) Power distance: btw you & tchr / btw you & other sts Level of formality / informality Speaking speed / Accent Idiom, slang: ‘gonna’, ‘wanna’, ‘tute’ E.g. Written: ‘I just want to say that …’ Spoken: “I juswanna saythet …” Jargon terms / technical words English Confidence
What can you do?
Academic Skills
Be prepared – how? reading getting to class (on time!) Participate – how? actively listen show interest – how? be willing to contribute – speak Try not just to stay in your cultural group Engage with the classes and other people https://student.unsw.edu.au/sites/all/files/styles/inline_image/public/page_image/guide-to-discussion-skills-for-unsw-students.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
5
Academic Skills Practical strategy: Prepare
KEY POINT: Make sure you know the weekly tutorial topic! Q: Where do you find this information? LMS Do the reading: ‘required’ vs ‘recommended’ vs ‘further’ Identify the main issues Actual think about the topic: what do you know/don’t know? Plan comments & questions for the tutorial HOW? Make notes
Read actively:
Academic Skills
Do something with texts Mark up – take notes Don’t just highlight It’s a colouring activity
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
6
Academic Skills Practical strategy: Practise
Practise saying your comments and questions macquariedictionary.com.au.ezp.lib.unimelb.edu.au
Check the pronunciation of key words you will need to say.
TIP: Form a study group – meet regularly, discuss the subject
Academic Skills In class ‐ Observe actively
What are you observing – what are you looking for? Notice how others … enter into discussion ask questions disagree with or support a viewpoint make critical comments interrupt politely disagree signal to make a point https://thesalesmaster.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/observe-look-magnifying-glass1.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
7
Listen actively
Academic Skills
Listen for signals Listen carefully … Let me repeat that … Now, this is important … To summarise … Watch the speaker Body language can help understanding Ask questions Ask if you don’t know The ‘dumb’ question is often the one everybody is thinking of! http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9PoEWpBEhFA/THtvPKuJBII/AAAAAAAABOY/A0utpdxikTw/s400/Female-lecturers111.jpg http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/DM-Resize/photos.demandstudios.com/getty/article/171/207/78036480.jpg?w=600&h=600&keep_ratio=1&webp=1
Academic Skills
Participate and Discuss
Things you might do: try to enter the discussion answer a question to put to the group provide an example for a point under discussion disagree or agree with a point made voice an opinion to an issue raised interrupt with an idea Think about some of the language you might use to do this
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
8
Academic Skills
Entering a discussion: language Could I just make a point? Could I say something….? Ah, I’d like to say… Yes, I agree and I’d like to add…. Can I ask…? Oh really? That’s an interesting point, however, …
Academic Skills
Entering a discussion Participate ‐ try Start small: Agree with someone Ask for more information Ask a question ‘That’s a great point!’ ‘A good example of that is …’ ‘I’d like to agree with that …’ http://www.otago.ac.nz/prodcons/groups/public/@aquinas/documents/contributorimg/otago037784.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
9
Academic Skills
Useful language: opinion – layered approach 1. Opinion I believe that … In my opinion … It seems to me that … 2. Reason This is because … I say that because … I think so because … 3. Support An example of this is … This can be seen in … Author name argues that … (spoken citation!)
Take notes
Academic Skills
Summarise ‐ Do NOT try to note down everything Re‐form & use some of your words: paraphrasing SO Develop a system of notetaking that works for you It has to be useable in the lecture to keep up AND later, when you revise
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
10
Academic Skills Speak to your academic staff
Talk to them Catch after class, but … Contact in office hours Email ‐ ask, don’t demand Correct title Who you are Why contacting What you want (polite) I’m hoping you can … I’d appreciate it if … http://news.wfu.edu/files/2014/03/photo-10.jpg http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~jeffreyn/class/05771/door/101-0119_IMG.JPG
Academic Skills
After the tutorial …
http://cdn2.mhpbooks.com/2016/02/google.jpg http://howlandechoes.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/6009__2776__youtube-logo-full_color.jpeg https://theunboundself.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/ted-logo-678x278.png http://www.historygraphicdesign.com/images/00001/r73.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Cnn.svg/1280px-Cnn.svg.png
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
11
Academic Skills
Services http://students.unimelb.edu.au/get‐ started/undergraduate‐international Go to Orientation activities and get involved – meet people
Practice tutorial
Academic Skills
How do you meet people on campus? Topic: The best way to meet people on campus is to join a sports club
Think about your position on this from both sides – what are the pros and cons? http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/news/images/AUG_2013.jpg http://www.sport.unimelb.edu.au/images/Mugars_Scholarship_Recipients.jpg
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
12
Academic Skills
Academic Skills
We value your feedback Survey can be found at http://go.unimelb.edu.au/on46
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/academicskills
13
