Blog vs Tutorial, (Typing vs Talking)
Before the break I was having a laugh turning up to the tutorials for this class every week, composed of dazzling numbers of around three to four people, with the fourth generally leaving early realising they were in the wrong class... Is it just me or is the opposite of what should be happening at a university?
Given, this is a class based around technology and culture, and a blog site such as this is ideal in providing us all with a place to lodge and link ideas and relay information, but it shouldn't be promoted in such a way that indicates that we need not do the same at tutorials. What tutorials offer is a place for like-minded university students such as you all reading this to come together and socialise, to actually get to know each other face-to-face and to stimulate eachother in our learning. This is why the university has them after all.
Obviously, then, the distinct lack of numbers at said tutorial can sort of damage these ideals of learning together when there is no 'together' applicable. I personally enjoy how much can be learnt in a tutorial discussion, not just from each other, but from Kevin, who actually knows alot about what he's talking about. So, although a tutorial cannot provide easily accessible links and msn messages from your friends whilst you watch youtube videos on the side (as is possible when writing in this blog all the time) it is a staple of the university learning experience and I digress that you all give it more of a go. I'm sure the other two people who consistently turn up (and Kevin) will appreciate it too. See you there!
Given, this is a class based around technology and culture, and a blog site such as this is ideal in providing us all with a place to lodge and link ideas and relay information, but it shouldn't be promoted in such a way that indicates that we need not do the same at tutorials. What tutorials offer is a place for like-minded university students such as you all reading this to come together and socialise, to actually get to know each other face-to-face and to stimulate eachother in our learning. This is why the university has them after all.
Obviously, then, the distinct lack of numbers at said tutorial can sort of damage these ideals of learning together when there is no 'together' applicable. I personally enjoy how much can be learnt in a tutorial discussion, not just from each other, but from Kevin, who actually knows alot about what he's talking about. So, although a tutorial cannot provide easily accessible links and msn messages from your friends whilst you watch youtube videos on the side (as is possible when writing in this blog all the time) it is a staple of the university learning experience and I digress that you all give it more of a go. I'm sure the other two people who consistently turn up (and Kevin) will appreciate it too. See you there!
posted by Alan at 6:56 PM
6 Comments:
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agreed and further to that, if we don't turn up to tutorials then we lose them because the uni doesn't see them as being economically viable so its in your best interests to attend them.
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Amen to that. And just to clarify, the staff teaching this course (me and him) do not see (and certainly do not promote) the blog as an alternative to the tutorial. In fact, the phrase I used in the first week was that it should be seen as an extension of the physical class meetings (lectures and tutes). I'm sorry that numbers are dipping so low in some of the tutes as this impacts on the experience for everyone. But I'm afraid that we see this happening in so many courses (especially above stage 1) regardless of whether there is an extra component such as a class blog. So many people see them as "non-essential" and therefore opt out, missing out on a whole dimension of the University learning experience. Without wishing to sound like an old codger, in my day (when lecturers didn't have email addresses!) I saw my whole degree as pretty "non essential" and that's a major reason why I enjoyed it so much. I just enjoyed studying a subject I was interested in for its own sake. I and most (not all) of my fellow students turned up to non-compulsory and non-essential classes just because it was interesting and we learned a lot and it kept us out of the pubs for that bit longer every day, thus saving us our hard won student grants... um, oh yes, the free money might have had something to do with our lack of an instrumental attitude towards our studies. Now it all has to be paid back, of course students are bound to be more instrumental, right? But hey, University is a once in a lifetime for most people... I'm ranting. Must shut up. But even if you want to be instrumental about it, there is in fact a very strong correlation between tutorial attendance and grades in most of the classes I've ever taught. There, I'm done preaching for today.
Yeah, apologies if I made it seem as if the lecturers were the ones promoting tutorials in such a non-plussed way. I meant it's pretty much just a universally accepted idea by students after attending a few that they're not all that important. This is generally not such a bad thing when just a few people skip now and then, but after yesterday when our tutorial consisted of a new low of only two students and a tutor... well let's just say it's getting a tad silly. I thought a nice post on the blog would rattle some brains and rally some troops, will have to wait and see next week. Haha. Cheers guys.
I admit, I don't attend this tutorial that much because of the numbers. I do attend most of my tutorials for other subjects, but I think that in some cases they are not that beneficial to me. I find that I can learn more from doing my own personal readings etc.
But onto the new media side of things...It wouldn't suprise me if blogs became the way of the future as another form of learning for students. As it seems from what Luke said, tutorial attendance above stage 1 is very low, maybe more blog style learning facilities would be better for people to express their ideas...Me personally, I think blogging is the way of the future.
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