Tutorials
Classes began today (finally... I've been champing at the bit since the IU semester started back in August). I thought this would be a good time to say a little about the Oxford tutorial system.
When we all started college, I remember being advised that we would spend less time in the classroom, but more time doing independent work. The tutorial system basically takes this one step further. Lecturers rarely or never assign reading directly; they provide lists or suggested reading, with the understanding that students will work through the books as the class proceeds. The only specific assignments are essays or problem sets, depending on the subject (lab or practical work is handled somewhat differently). Each course has a corresponding series of tutorials -- individual meetings with a professor to go over the past week's assignment in depth.
In general, education here has more depth and less breadth than the American system. Everyone starts to specialize before starting university, and once they arrive they typically get more individual attention from the faculty; this means that professors spend all their time on students from their own departments. Hence, multiple majors and electives aren't really available. I'm going to miss all of IU's language options, but I'm looking forward to the tutorials.
Like the Aix folks, I've found that there's no formal registration for courses, and that you just show up. There was some organization (I had to be assigned to a tutor for each class), but at one point I did panic a little since I hadn't actually signed up for any lectures. I asked one of my tutors about this, and she said it "sounded like some American thing."
Cheers,
Joe
When we all started college, I remember being advised that we would spend less time in the classroom, but more time doing independent work. The tutorial system basically takes this one step further. Lecturers rarely or never assign reading directly; they provide lists or suggested reading, with the understanding that students will work through the books as the class proceeds. The only specific assignments are essays or problem sets, depending on the subject (lab or practical work is handled somewhat differently). Each course has a corresponding series of tutorials -- individual meetings with a professor to go over the past week's assignment in depth.
In general, education here has more depth and less breadth than the American system. Everyone starts to specialize before starting university, and once they arrive they typically get more individual attention from the faculty; this means that professors spend all their time on students from their own departments. Hence, multiple majors and electives aren't really available. I'm going to miss all of IU's language options, but I'm looking forward to the tutorials.
Like the Aix folks, I've found that there's no formal registration for courses, and that you just show up. There was some organization (I had to be assigned to a tutor for each class), but at one point I did panic a little since I hadn't actually signed up for any lectures. I asked one of my tutors about this, and she said it "sounded like some American thing."
Cheers,
Joe
1 Comments:
IU seems to be becoming even less focused on specialization (or more focused on well-roundedness). New minimum requirements for graduation are being considered, and the Direct Admit Program is under review. Although I hate the principle of having to take arts and humanities to get a science/math degree, I do enjoy my drawing class. And the Direct Admit program didn't really help me much--maybe because I changed majors a semester into school?
It'll be interesting to try the tutorial system.
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