University lecturing skills - union agrees there is more to be done
UMASA, the trade union representing lecturers at the University, said today that the fact that a substantial number of students still felt that some of their lecturers were not very good public speakers meant that there was still work to be done in this regard.
The union - the University of Malta Academic Staff Association - was reacting to a KSU survey which found that University lecturers were generally well prepared, knowledgeable about their subjects and willing to help, but many students were not so impressed with their lecturing skills and ability to be stimulating in class. (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100614/local/university-survey-students-not-impressed-by-lecturers )
UMASA said the collective agreement which it had signed along with the MUT and the University placed due importance on education, training and development of academic staff and also set out a strategy for training in pedagogy, educational technologies and lecturing methods.
It pointed out that the University, in agreement with the unions, had reinstated the student feedback exercise at the end of every semester, in order to serve as an input towards the continuous improvement of the academic staff in their lecturing. The strategy set out in the agreement was expected to bear maximum fruition in the medium and longer terms.
The union pointed out, however, that in a University environment, the students shared the responsibility for learning to a much greater extent than did students in primary and secondary schools.
"University students are of sufficient maturity to be proactive in their studies, and to seek out new knowledge on their own in order to complement the knowledge received during lectures. This is in fact part of the training process of the students, and it is one of the duties of a University lecturer to give space for the students to do this," the union added.
UMASA welcomed the fact that most students were satisfied with the levels of knowledge and of preparation of the lecturers, and that they felt that lectures were well delivered. The union was also happy to note that the majority of students felt that they are treated fairly and equally by the lecturers.
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Klaus Pedersen
Jun 16th 2010, 09:25
Why is there not a systematic evaluation of lecturers (and teachers for that matter) at the end of each course, so that the problems can be identified and dealt with?
It should be the easiest thing in the world to organise it - and the expertise to conduct the surveys and analyse the data should be readily available at university.
Teachers who cannot teach should be givien help, and in the meantime be kept far away from students.
Education is too important for the country to suffer for the sake of the sensitivities of some individuals.
leonardo vince
Jun 16th 2010, 08:44
I experienced lecturers at the university who could not read straight in English from a book in their hands.
Ludwig Flask
Jun 16th 2010, 09:48
...and more than 90% of university graduates don't know how to right or speak in English!
leonardo vince
Jun 16th 2010, 11:04
@ludwig
you mean 'write' not 'right'.....what a world.....what people?????
Ludwig Flask
Jun 17th 2010, 06:45
@leonardo vince
and a word processor bought over 200 Euro has missed that mistake.....what a world.....what people?????
Carmel J Caruana
Jun 16th 2010, 07:22
The pedagogical skills of university lecturers will only develop when universities start valuing them in real terms as much as they do expertise in the particular discipline of the lecturer . At the moment most universities in the world do not. Research articles in education specific to the discipline of the individual lecturer are given less weighting in applications for promotion than research papers in the discipline itself. There is therefore very little incentive to carry out educational research and the pedagogical expertise of the lecturer does not develop. Universities must remember that they are intrinsically both research AND EDUCATIONAL Institutions.
Nicole Attard
Jun 16th 2010, 02:07
"University students are of sufficient maturity to be proactive in their studies, and to seek out new knowledge on their own in order to complement the knowledge received during lectures. This is in fact part of the training process of the students, and it is one of the duties of a University lecturer to give space for the students to do this," the union added." >>> that is the reason why i don't bother going to lectures.....stay at home or at the library and do you thing....most lecturers end up coming late....especially part timers who are always late because of their full time jobs....if u can't commit yourself to teaching well and being on time for lectures why do you overwork?
G.Dalli
Jun 15th 2010, 18:54
@Joe Fenech....would you please suggest any creative ways which I don't use in class as a teacher to make my lessons interesting? What about group work, flashcards, charts, games, powerpoints, ict games, songs, new workbooks, resources etc which I all buy from my own money! Apart from that, uni lecturers were really boring, they just used to read their notes that's all
Joe Fenech
Jun 16th 2010, 00:35
How many teachers are like you, sir?
Dominic Fenech
Jun 15th 2010, 17:38
This was just a pointless exercise yielding pointless outcomes.
Joe Fenech
Jun 15th 2010, 17:46
You are all so right prof! No one beats a tal-Qroqq professor!
Doris Muscat
Jun 15th 2010, 19:49
Prosit Profs, ghadek kemm ikkonfermajt li s-survey kellu ragun!!! u kif ! jekk l-attitudni ta whud mill-lecturers huma bhal tieghek. Tahseb li l-lecturers huma 'l fuq minn kull kritika?? Hemm whud li veru huma kapaci u tar-ruh u mhux kollha ghandhom "attitude problem".......
Frans Gauci
Jun 15th 2010, 19:52
U zgur! L-aqwa li hadtu iz-zieda!
Lawrence Bonello
Jun 16th 2010, 08:45
One's 'attitude problem" is generally directly proportional to one's abilities!
Joe Fenech
Jun 15th 2010, 17:11
Just uni? What about school teachers? BOOORRRIIINNGGG!!!!!!!
Franco Farrugia
Jun 15th 2010, 17:08
Ever since the latest agreement was signed between UMASA and the Government, what improvements have been registered in favour of the students and the teaching that was imparted? What has changed, in other words?
Brandon Pirotta
Jun 15th 2010, 18:02
kiku taf kemm inbidlu affarijiet!! haga ma nbidlitx - li hemm certu lecturers ma jisthux tant li ibiddlu format ta' karta tal-ezami 3 ijim qabel l-ezami stess!! imnalla jkun hemm erba lecturers tar-ruh ghax kieku certu nies lanqas ikun haqqhom jissejhu nies!!