definitions

teaching skills (n.)

1.the

activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill"he received no formal education" "our instruction was carefully programmed" "good classroom teaching is seldom rewarded"

Different Types of Teaching

The Lecture
Usually time-tabled for 1 or 2 hours and taking place in tiered lecture theatres. Lectures can be very large and be attended by 100 or more students. The lecturer will present concepts and information in a succinct way using a mixture of verbal and visual means and students are expected to take their own notes of what is presented. Many teachers do also provide key points in handout materials or make these available on-line before or after the lecture.

The Seminar or Tutorial

Usually time-tabled for an hour and taking place in smaller rooms with moveable furniture. Seminars and tutorials are smaller classes, with numbers ranging between 10 and 30. Here the emphasis is on group discussion and debate and students are expected to listen to others and contribute to the conversation. Some seminars require students to prepare and give short presentations whilst others may require preparatory work on problem sets or readings - clear instructions will be given by your teachers.

The Personal Tutorial

Students are assigned a personal tutor who is a key contact person and can support a student on more general academic matters and pastoral issues. Schools arrange their personal tutorials slightly differently but they usually involve a one- to one meeting with your tutor each semester and they provide an excellent forum to review personal development and progress on the course

Practical or Laboratory Class

Usually time-tabled for 2 or 3 hours, Practicals involve experimental and research activities that often requires specialised equipment and laboratory space. They are important classes in Science and Engineering subjects and provide a place where students can put the theory, they learn about in lectures, into practice, develop skills and undertake investigative work. Health and Safety is a major concern in laboratory classes and students are frequently required to wear safety goggles and protective clothing (Lab. coats).

Fieldwork
In some subjects it is important to study away from the University in different landscapes and environments. This may involve organised trips to nature reserves, art galleries. industrial sites etc depending on your course that could last a few hours or a several

days. Students are usually given specific learning tasks to accomplish before, during and after the visit which may be assessed.

E-learning
The use of many different forms of computer aided learning is widespread at The University. This may include the provision of on-line self-testing quizzes that students are encouraged to use in their own time or computer simulations which groups of students interact with over several weeks in seminars or practical classes.

Project and dissertation work

Projects can be undertaken individually or sometimes by groups of students working independently. Usually a teacher will act as a project supervisor and will provide guidance and support for the process although this may be for only limited amounts of time. Projects involve identifying a focus for a period of investigation and research that may take several weeks to accomplish. The end products of the work may be a report, a dissertation, a poster or a presentation.

Resource-based and Self guided study

Students are provided with learning materials (in hard copy or on-line) which direct and structure episodes of study. These may include tasks, solving problems, carrying out exercises and self testing understanding. Students can be asked to do this individually or in small groups and to some extent, can work at their own pace.

Problem-based learning (PBL)

A specialised form of small group work, PBL requires students to work through a series of specially crafted problems with the support of a facilitator. Cycles of PBL usually run over two weeks and involve three seminar styled meetings with the facilitator. In between the meetings the students are expected to address the questions and learning outcomes that have been identified during discussion at a meeting in order to be able to report back at the following session.