10/30/2013
Independent
Learning
INDEPENDENT LEARNING IS FAR EFFECTIVE THAN LEARNING FULL-TIME, SAYS REPORTS
By -- JAN FELTON
A lecturer enters into a classroom, opens a text book, instructs students thereafter to do the same and gets on with a chapter. The bell rings, say after 45 minutes and the chapter comes to an end. Great!! Now, the question is how many students managed to learn and how many actually remained attentive towards the lecture given during those 45 minutes. Even if some lecturers while taking their next class make it a point to recall the study session conducted in the previous one, the majority remain in a hurry to complete a chapter as soon as possible. So, if this happens daily, whatâ€&#x;s the use of going to full-time classes? Suggestion of QAA As per the scenario witnessed in todayâ€&#x;s colleges, the guided learning hours are set as per the A-level subject. In the universities however, the rules are not so stringent and students therefore get a bit of flexibility to study. According to the Quality Assurance Agency, it has been suggested that students should take 1200 hours per year for studying. However, this will neither include private study sessions nor specific lecture time periods.
Getting 6 hours of lectures is sufficient As per a study conducted in May 2013 by „Whichâ€&#x; and the Higher Education Policy Institute, students on an average are failing meet this guideline and are rather falling short by 300 hours. Well, reality says something else. Only 6 hours of lectures per week covering over 32 weeks of term subtracting holidays are enough. Studying privately for around 1000 hours or more would be instead beneficial. As per the UK university reports, it has been found that tuition fees contribute a lot more than lectures. In fact, the university budgets should comprise factors like: - Work experience - Internship - Accommodation - Campus facilities - Professional advice on careers - Campus maintenance - Allocating monetary support of students
Despite, students after taking these facilities end up with less contact time. One of UK University‟s spokesperson however said, “It is misleading to make a crude assumption that time spent in lectures and seminars can be equated with university course quality.” The UK universities rather focus on the importance of studying independently that varies from course to course as well as between individual institutions. Students in medical science for instance should expect to get more than 20 hours of lectures or seminars on a weekly basis, whereas philosophy or history students do not need more than 8 hours. Well, it‟s reality that studying independently is considered to be more relevant for some subjects. However, it‟s also true that the calculation of tuition fees can never be the same for all courses. The UK universities moreover have witnessed major developments in online education over the past years. Apart from assuring convenience and flexibility in their course schedules, these universities have initiated easy student financing schemes to let students and working professionals independently complete their higher studies within their means.
So, the option of studying on oneâ€&#x;s own will always remain high-scoring in comparison to full-time, and the introduction of new learning tools and technologies will further strengthen its role in the coming years. Letâ€&#x;s hope for the best!!
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