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Know Your StudentsKnow Your Students

Teaching Effectively in Higher Education in Hong Kong

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Know Your StudentsKnow Your Students

Background & characteristics

Study goals & expectations

What do students expect of their teachers?

Implications for teaching

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Background and CharacteristicsBackground and Characteristics

A typical undergraduate student

Living conditions

Family

Financial support

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A Typical Undergraduate StudentA Typical Undergraduate Student

Hong Kong Chinese

19 years old

Females outnumber males in most universities

Majority profess no religious beliefs

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Living ConditionsLiving Conditions

Lives at home with family members Small apartment May not have own room or study desk Modest to poor housing Travels more than one hour to university Living conditions gradually improving

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FamilyFamily

Educational level of parents not high

Fathers better educated than mothers

Fathers in production or service industries

Median Hong Kong income

May be the first family member to attend university - or even secondary school

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Financial SupportFinancial Support

Reliant on parents for financial support

Reliant on government grants

Reliant on their own part-time work

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Study Goals & ExpectationsStudy Goals & Expectations

Study goals

Expectations of university education

What students expect of their teachers

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Study GoalsStudy Goals

The most significant factors in choosing a course of study:

Interest in subject

Career prospects

Limited in choice by examination results

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Study GoalsStudy Goals

Other factors:

Family expectations

To obtain a qualification

Own ability in subject

Influence of friends

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Study GoalsStudy Goals

In recent years interest in the subject has declined as a reason for study and career aspirations have increased.

Females report interest in subject as a reason more often than males.

Discipline differences in study goals.

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Students come to university with a mix of motives and expectations:

Vocational - to pursue a career, become a professional

To become broadly educated - intrinsic motivation

Maturation and personal development Competitive/Achieving - to get a good job,

pass exams

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Expectations of university educationExpectations of university education

Vocational - to pursue a career, become a professional

“I am really interested in this course. I want to gain as much knowledge as possible that is related to the profession. I think that is my expectation.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Maturation and personal development

“I do not intend simply to attend classes and sit for the exam at university. I also want to make more friends and get in contact with people from a variety of backgrounds.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

To become broadly educated

“I choose this course not because I want to become a lawyer. Instead, what I want is to learn how to think critically and rationally … There a lot of things happening in the society which I need to know about.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Competitive/Achieving

“I only hope that I can complete my studies and get a pass in the exam. I have to pass the exam because I need it to increase my ability to compete with others in the job market.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

CONTRARY TO THE PERCEPTIONS OF A LOT OF UNIVERSITY LECTURERS, MOST STUDENTS ARE NOT SIMPLY INTERESTED IN PASSING THE EXAM AND GETTING A DEGREE.

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Hindrances to achieving expectations

Heavy workload Rigid/narrow curriculum Lack on interaction with staff or classmates Inadequate resources/opportunities Students’ own problems

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Hindrances to achieving expectations

“As you have to do so many things, you can only learn them superficially. I think this is an obstacle to my learning”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Hindrances to achieving expectations

“Sometimes we feel quite bitter as we’ve missed many things. It is important for us to know more about things that are not related to the technical areas, for example interpersonal communications.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University EducationHindrances to achieving expectations

Lack of interaction with staff or classmates

“The teachers seldom have contact with us … We seldom meet each other after class.”

“I am disappointed at the relationship I have with my classmates … we hardly know each other and seldom talk to each other.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Hindrances to achieving expectations

“We need to discuss and exchange ideas to solve problems, but there are few places we can go for that.”

“There is a problem of resource … Our course has been going on for two months, but not all the equipment we need is available.”

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Expectations of University EducationExpectations of University Education

Hindrances to achieving expectations

“My main problem is lack of concentration. Although I want to do many things, I am not very persistent.”

“I think I need self-discipline and time management skills …”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

“Good” teachers and “good” teaching make students feel more satisfied about their learning experience, enhance their confidence in studying a subject, and motivate them to learn more about it.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

HEAD: Knowledge of the subject

HANDS: Teaching skills

HEART: Attitudes towards teaching and concern for students

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Head

“I feel he is a good lecturer because he has a very good foundation of basic knowledge. He is very rich in terms of both theoretical and practical views.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

Clear and systematic presentation Teaching at the right level Use of learning aids Arousing students’ interests Encouraging active learning Stimulating students to think

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

“He presented his lectures in a logical order. I could learn more from this subject than the others.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

“The lecturer teaches us the theories in depth, progressing gradually from the easy to the more difficult parts.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

“She teaches in a creative way. She does not simply talk to us in a monologue. She shows us some videos and tapes, and asks us to have oral practice.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

“The most satisfying subject is the one in which I can participate actively in the learning process … “

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Hands

“If they can make me think more, I can learn more. If the lecturer simply tries to present a lot of information and asks me to copy down the notes, he cannot stimulate me to think.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Heart

Concern for student learning Helpfulness Empathy for students Enthusiasm towards subject and /or teaching

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Heart

“Whether a teacher is really good or not depends on his attitude - whether he is teaching and tries his best.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Heart

“He is willing to answer our questions. Even if we ask him some ‘stupid’ questions, he will patiently point out our misconceptions and guide us to think on the right tract.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Heart

“To me, a good lecturer should be able to relate to students … and show concern for them .. He should be polite and sincere in answering students’ questions.”

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What Students Expect of Their TeachersWhat Students Expect of Their Teachers

Heart

“He has the heart for teaching. I see him working very hard all the time, preparing a lot of things for his lectures …”

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Implications for TeachingImplications for Teaching

Understand students’ perspectives and expectations of university study

Set a realistic workloadMake the curriculum flexibleProvide opportunities for interactionEnsure adequate resources for studyMake your expectations known to

students

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Implications for TeachingImplications for Teaching

Be interested and enthusiastic in what you are teaching.

Care that your students become as interested and knowledgeable in the subject as you are.

Appreciate the fact that they may have difficulties and work with them.

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Thank youThank you