Text 1. Traditional education VS credit-based education

by Kevin James Bondelli

(www.kevinbondelli.com; http://www.scribd.com)

64pravo.ru

PRE-READING

Activity 1. As students, you are doing credit courses in your majors. Can you explain the academic term “credit course”?

Now read the definitions below and check your ideas.

A credit course is…

• A class with specified learning goals which the student is required to meet in order to pass the course and that may be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements at a college or university.
• A course in which A, B, C, D, and/or G grades are awarded. Grades recognize the achievement of a part of or the total requirements for a course or learning module.

Extract 1

 

The question of which method results in the most possible learning is one that has been debated extensively throughout the history of education. The most practiced method is often referred to as the ‘traditional’ system, in which the main method of teaching is still the lecture. Students do not spend much time studying independently, but rather spend their time listening to lectures and taking notes. There are seldom tutorials. Students are unable to make educational decisions on their own, they had no say in the curriculum and/or methods of instruction. Outside the lectures, students are only required to complete assignments. The traditional system does not allow the flexibility in time management to make this the most efficient method.

 

The traditional educational system focuses entirely on intellectual and ignores experiential learning, it only teaches students how to succeed on standardized tests, has an authoritarian nature, and makes students value education and not learning. The traditional system’s reliance on standardized testing lessens the amount of actual learning that is done in schools.

 

Extract 2

 

Unlike in the traditional teaching system, credit based education is built upon a more flexible “syllabus”, which enables students to adjust their own learning process in order to meet the graduation requirements in an optimal time frame. The syllabus also facilitates the division of subjects and training tasks per semester in such a way that a student wishing to follow his own learning pattern at a normal speed can register for any new subject only upon completing the prerequisites. Students can individually tailor their own learning pattern based on the available courses and subjects. However, it is strongly recommended to follow the master syllabus.

 

Teachers aim to help students develop learning skills and strategies to enable them to cope with the amount of independent workload. Several useful strategies of the credit based education are: the use of concept mapping, problem-based learning (by means of challenging tasks for students), case studies, interdisciplinary approaches, team participation, online learning. Altogether these strategies make a student a life-long learner as he acquires most critical learning skills.

VOCABULARY FOCUS

Activity 2. Find in the text words or phrases meaning:

1) to be known as; 2) to have neither choice nor voice in sth; 3) based on one's own experience; 4) practical classes; 5) strictly regulated or controlled; 6) make something more effective; 7) the way a student designs his/her timetable; 8) adjust, adapt.

Activity 3. Explain the difference between:

1) syllabus – curriculum;

2) intellectual learning – experiential learning;

3) lecture – tutorial;

4) traditional – credit-based system;

5) education – learning;

6) prerequisites – postrequisites.

GRAMMAR FOCUS

Activity 4. Insert prepositions:

1. Students have little say _____ academic decision-making.

2. Have you registered _____ any elective course?

3. Some students find it hard to cope _____ the university program.

4. With computer technologies a student can study _____ his own speed.

5. It takes a lot of efforts to succeed _____ life.

6. Did you succeed _____ the ENT?

7. We do one project _____ semester _____ this subject.

Activity 5. Paraphrase the sentences using the Passive Voice:

1. It makes students value learning.

2. They refer to the method as the traditional one.

3. They are registering students for the courses now.

4. They build the credit-based system on a flexible syllabus.

5. Standardized testing lessens the amount of actual learning.

6. Scholars have been debating the issues of methodology extensively throughout the history of education.

Activity 6. Open the brackets using the Passive Voice:

1. All the assignments _____ (complete, already).

2. The amount of actual learning that _____ (do, currently) in schools is not quite impressive.

3. Our curriculum _____ (adjust, gradually) to the market needs.

4. The drawbacks of the traditional system _____ (eliminate, hardly) in the near future.

5. This approach _____ (refer) as an interdisciplinary one.

6. The assignment _____ (complete) before the next week-end.

7. Under the credit-based system students _____ (make) life-long learners.

 

WHILE-READING

Activity 7. Make up A-B pairs and identify the lines along which the two systems are contrasted in the text; draw a table of two columns to differentiate between them.

Activity 8. Read the statements below and decide whether they describe a credit (C) or traditional (T) higher education system. Say what is their counterpart in the other system. Add more statements to the issue if you have any.

 

The curriculum and syllabi are tailored to the needs of students. They are free to choose elective courses on their own.
Teachers make decisions. Students do not decide which subjects to study; they simply follow the curriculum.
There is no systematic independent study throughout a semester. Students only memorize the assigned information to deliver it at exams.
Student’s ability to work regularly on self-study basis and in a team is the key driver of his success in the academic studies. 70% of the knowledge is the result of student’s independent study.
Students get marks at exams with 5 as the maximum.
Students earn credits for a degree.
The course duration is not fixed. Students keep studying until they get the required number of credits for a degree.
A course duration is usually fixed for 4 or 5 years.
While completing self-study assignments students master different skills and abilities important for their future professional career. Some of them are: analytical and creative thinking, public speaking and presentation skills, analytical reading and writing skills, problem-solving, decision making and leadership skills.
Students are tied to a fixed timetable.
Students are free to design their timetable for most of the disciplines.
Students have an opportunity to choose instructors and the language of instruction.
Students have no information on what topics they are going to study in the subjects they are instructed in.
The assessment of students’ academic progress is based on a 100-point scoring system.
In the beginning of a term students get informed on the content of academic programs.

 

POST-READING

 

Activity 9. Follow–up discussion: What doconcept mapping, problem-based learning, case studies, interdisciplinary approaches, team participation, online learning mean? Have you practiced any of them in your university studies? Make a list of the dis/advantages of both learning systems.

Activity 10. Hold a debate on the issue “Our university education is credit-based/traditional”. Present your arguments and support them with examples or facts.

 

 

TEXT 2. HIGHER EDUCATION IN KAZAKHSTAN:

CHALLENGES AND PRIORITIES