Headstart: Academic Life
Different Types of Learning Expectations and Situations
Slide 1:
Welcome to the Headstart Transition Program series on academic life at Laurier. Starting at university
means you will be faced with a new academic setting and expectations that will be very different from
what you might be used to.
When you enter Laurier, you may be unfamiliar with some of the terms used to describe your academic
setting. In this module, we will define the different types of academic situations that you may
encounter and the expectations that professors have of students in these settings.
We will also cover what we mean by lectures, tutorials, labs, seminars, class discussion, group work and
presentation skills.
Slide 2:
All students at Laurier attend lectures. Lectures can have as many as 200 students or as few as 40
students. Lecture-styled teaching is more common in first- and second-year courses.
Lectures are weekly oral presentations that the professor will give based on the course content. Keep in
mind that most professors will only cover certain aspects of the course content and provide background
information and examples during the lecture. Since the professor gives a general overview, it is still your
responsibility do your readings before class so that you get a complete understanding of the topic being
covered. Reading before class also gives you the opportunity to verify whether you understand the
concepts you have read and to develop questions. Lecture styles vary from professor to professor –
regardless of what content he or she covers in lecture, it is your responsibility to make sure you know
the material presented in class and in your assigned readings. Some professors discuss assigned
readings in class and others lecture on different material.
Different professors have different expectations regarding questions in class. Some professors prefer
that students do not ask questions until the end of class, so as not to interrupt the lecture. Other
professors encourage students to ask questions throughout class. Either way, questions pertaining to
your personal circumstances or academic standing should be addressed with the professor after class,
not during. Speak to your professors after the lecture so that you can get to know them and do not be
afraid to ask them for help - they are here to help you.
Attending your lectures is important because this is usually the time that professors highlight certain
areas to focus on for exams and discuss requirements for essays. Many courses hold their midterms and
pop quizzes in the lecture.
Slide 3:
Tutorials are an added component to many lectures. Tutorials are facilitated by either instructional
assistants (IAs), who are senior undergraduates who have taken the course and excelled at it, or
teaching assistants (TAs), who are graduate students who have taken the course or are familiar with the
content. Don’t be afraid to seek their help – helping you understand material is what they do!
Tutorials are small groups that can range from 20-30 students where an IA or TA facilitates discussions
among the students. This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and develop an understanding of
the topic that is being discussed in the lecture.
To do well, students will need to attend the tutorials as attendance counts toward the final grade.
Moreover, students are also required to participate in tutorial discussions and to complete the
assignments given to them. A good strategy is to familiarize yourself with the material covered in class
because it can help you to generate questions to ask your IA or TA and help you complete the
assignments given during tutorial. You may also be expected to give informal or formal individual or
group presentations in front of the class.
Slide 4:
Labs are another added component to many lectures, especially in science or language courses. Some
courses have tutorials and labs in conjunction with lectures. Other courses may have lectures and either
labs or tutorials. Some courses simply have seminars. While registering, please make sure to register for
all components of a course. For more information on how to do so, please look at the workshops in the
LORIS series.
Labs are led by instructors with the help of IAs or TAs. Unlike tutorials, labs provide students with the
chance to have hands-on experience and learn practical application of concepts. Students may also view
live demonstrations of key experiments.
To do well, students will need to attend the labs since attendance counts toward the final grade.
Moreover, students are also required to participate in lab activities and complete the assignments given
to them. Keep up with course readings and attend lectures as they will help you to do well on the
assignments given during lab. For your assignments, you may have to work with other students in a
group. Learning to be a good team player is essential to doing well in labs.
Slide 5:
Fourth-year students are more likely to take seminar classes in the subject that they are majoring in.
Seminars are very different from the lecture- and tutorial-style classes that students may experience in
1st to 3rd year. Unlike lectures and tutorials where professors are in charge of presenting information, in
seminars students have a greater role in facilitating the discussions and teaching each other.
The seminar is a way of learning that encourages students to be active and independent learners. There
is a greater focus on class participation and the exchange of ideas through discussion. As a result,
keeping up with readings, doing additional research beyond the classroom and actively participating in
class is crucial to doing well and maximizing your time in a seminar.
Presentations in seminars usually come in two forms: You may be asked to choose a topic or you may be
assigned a topic from your course readings to present to your class individually or in a group, after which
you may have to answer questions that the professor or the class may ask you. The second form is
where you present main ideas of a topic that you are reading about in class and then lead a class
discussion.
The key to doing well in seminars is to participate actively in class, to explore topics in depth and to
think critically about the main concepts.
Slide 6:
As you might have noticed from the previous slides, class discussions are essential to doing well in
tutorials, labs and seminars. While participation marks might not seem like a lot, they add up and they
can raise your marks. Speaking in class is a good way of showing that you are interested and building a
good rapport with your professor or TA. This is essential because if you face any academic problems or
you need guidance, they will be more willing to help you.
If you are shy or if speaking in class is not something that was expected of you in previous schools, this
might seem like a scary prospect. Don’t worry! There are a number of strategies that you can use. Focus
on explaining your opinion about a topic instead of your feelings. While speaking, use key words you
have learned in the lecture to demonstrate that you have done your readings and provide personal
examples. As long as you can provide examples and explain your perspective, it is acceptable, and even
encouraged to have a different point of view in university.
Slide7:
Group work is a major aspect of academic life in university. You may be divided into groups by your
professor or you may be allowed to choose who you wish to work with. Either way, it is always
important to be patient and open to working with others. People do have different working styles and it
is perfectly natural to sometimes face challenges while working with others. Try to be flexible and open
to alternative ideas. If you disagree with your group members, try being polite and tactful instead of
being confrontational. Changing groups should only be a last resort and can only be done with the
permission of the professor.
Keep in mind that group work is a graded component and is not optional. While group work may have its
challenges, it is a great way to learn different ways of approaching a topic. Moreover, it is also a
wonderful way to learn new skills and make friends. It can be a lot of fun!
Slide 8:
As you might have realised from the previous slides, presentations will be a major part of your grade in
many of your courses.
Speaking in front of the class might seem frightening, especially if you have never been expected to do
so before or if English is not your first language. Make sure to allocate time to practice before you
present in front of the class. Practice in front of your friends or roommates to get feedback and also to
get into the flow of presenting. If you are afraid that you may forget what to say, write down your main
points in point form on cue cards. Avoid writing out wordy speeches as you will be more likely to read
instead of present. You also want to make sure that you maintain eye contact with your professor and
your classmates.
Slide 9:
You may be nervous to speak with your professors or TAs, especially if you come from a school or
culture where communicating with your instructors was not expected. At Laurier, you not only have
permission to meet and talk with your instructors, you are encouraged to do so. Your professors and
TAs will hold weekly office hours, which are times when they will be available to talk to you about the
course, clarify any questions you have, or discuss your work. Your professors and TAs will inform you of
when and where their office hours will be at the beginning of the semester: usually instructors hold their
hours in their office, but they may sometimes be in other locations, like the library). Usually your course
outline, or syllabus, will have information about when and where your instructors have their office
hours.
Attending office hours not only will help you academically, but are also a good way to develop a rapport
with your instructors, and show that you’re committed to your studies.
Slide 10:
Laurier’s Study Skills and Supplemental Instruction Centre offers individual consultations, workshops and
academic mentoring to help students develop the skills needed to succeed academically. Topics include
oral presentation, researching, time management, exam strategies and studying in groups. Visit their
website to learn more or to check out their online workshops.
Speak is a program designed specifically for students who are learning English as another language to
help them be successful in university. Visit the Speak website for more information on the times and
venues and for additional resources.
Counselling Services provides personal and academic counselling, as well as performance coaching, so
that you can learn to deal with anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, and overall learn to perform to
the best of your abilities in university.
Slide 11:
This concludes the module on different types of learning expectations and situations. If you have further
questions please visit the Headstart website at www.wlu.ca/headstart or email the Headstart program
at headstart@wlu.ca. Thank you!