Australian university class format

The format of classroom classes in Australia is very different from that of universities in China. The forms of classes are also more diverse, including experimental courses, specialized tutoring courses, knowledge teaching courses, etc. Australian international students must be familiar with the course procedures and related matters during class. Let’s follow me and take a look.

1. Class format

Experimental class (lab):

It is an experimental class. This kind of thing is similar to what is available in China. It means teaching clinical skills and practicing them on dummies or classmates.

The above is the main form of classes in Australia, which is very different from domestic universities. No one cares about you, you have to solve everything by yourself. Whether you learn more or less is your own. You have to ask your own questions and have the ability to learn and solve problems on your own. This is what domestic universities lack most.

Lecture:

Lectures are similar to large lectures in domestic universities. The number of people is usually more than 100. Because there are so many people, the teacher does not call names during lectures. By consciousness. The teachers who teach are generally tutors of the subject, and they mainly teach new knowledge. The content taught is mostly theoretical or abstract, similar to syllabus lectures. Although the length of a Lecture class is generally only one hour, the content of the textbook taught by the teacher can be forty, fifty or even more than a hundred pages, so you must preview in advance before taking the Lecture. There is no need to take notes during lectures. The teacher will put all the notes online. You need to download, print and bring them to class.

Tutorial:

Each course’s Lecture has a corresponding Tutorial, which is equivalent to small class teaching. The number of students is generally controlled within 30 people (mostly 15-20 people) ), the counselor is usually the subject tutor or other professional teacher, and may also be a senior student. The main task of Tutorial is to answer questions for students. Tutorial formats vary depending on the subjects studied. Science and engineering subjects are mostly in the form of a lab session, while business subjects are mostly in the form of a discussion class (Assignment).

2. After-class communication

Classroom Q&A in Australia is mainly conducted in small tutorial classes. Of course, we often see lecturers surrounded by students asking questions after class. In addition, don’t ignore the importance of after-class communication. In Australia, after-class communication is an important way of communication for answering questions in the classroom. After-class communication is usually conducted online.

In Australian university classes, the lecturers encourage students to ask questions themselves, and they will be happy to discuss them with you. For questions in class or problems you encounter when completing homework, you should seize the time to ask the teacher and try to solve them in class. The main lecturer and tutors who guide students' learning are the first people to help students solve learning problems.

In addition, due to limited communication time with teachers in class, teachers usually announce an after-school consultation session to answer students’ questions. During the designated period of the consultation meeting, you do not need to make an appointment in advance to ask the teacher for advice. However, if there are many questions and it will take up a long time, it is best to make an appointment in advance. If you inform the tutor at the same time what the questions you want to consult are at the same time, it will be more convenient for the tutor. Provide targeted answers.

In addition, students can also make an appointment with the tutor via email or phone at other times to get more face-to-face guidance.

3. Online communication

In Australia, you must make good use of online learning. Many universities use the computer network as part of the auxiliary teaching of courses, and it is also an online platform for teachers to convey information to students. For example, class notes, assignment deadlines, bibliographies, and new announcements from teachers, etc., will all be released in the school system. Therefore, you must frequently check whether the information in the school system has been updated. It is best to check it every time you use the computer.

4. Other classroom-related matters

Roll call:

Since the Australian Immigration Bureau requires that the attendance rate of international students in classes must reach 8% of the total number of classes There are strict rules. If attendance is insufficient, your visa may be cancelled. Attendance statistics are mainly collected during tutorials, and many schools will take roll call a few minutes before class starts. Calculated based on 13 weeks of teaching time per semester, if you are absent from a class 3 times, your attendance will be recorded as failed.

Homework:

Homework assigned normally will be calculated proportionally into the final grade of the course, and there are many forms of homework. Generally, after attending the lecture, the lecturer may assign some assignments or easy/reports and give students a certain amount of time to complete them. If the various assignments cannot be submitted before the deadline, the students' grades will be deducted according to the required percentage.

Time:

The school system will list the time periods that can be selected for the course. For example, the Tutorial of a certain course will have a time period of 3:00-5:00 pm. There is also a time slot of 7:00-900pm. If you are not sure about the course schedule, class time or location, you can log in to the school's campus system to check.

Communication:

Q&A is mainly conducted in small classes in Tutorial. Of course, we often see Lecture lecturers surrounded by students asking questions after class. In addition, don’t ignore the importance of after-class communication. In Australia, after-class communication is a communication method that pays equal attention to class Q&A. After-class communication is usually conducted online.