 | Further Diploma in Education (Educational Management) by Distance Education at the University of Pretoria, South Africa (CIE, 2002, 55 p.) |
 |  | 6. Students' Views on Aspects of the Course |
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6.1 The teaching in the different subjects
In the first question the respondents were asked to evaluate every subject by ticking the provided statements accordingly. Only one example for a subject will be included to indicate the factors related to the question. Since most responses were quite similar, we have decided only include one set of examples.
Table 14: Teaching methods and preparation in Education Management 401 (OWB 401)
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Never % |
Sometimes % |
Often % |
Very often % |
|
Lectures with Lecturers dictating notes |
40.99 |
23.87 |
20.72 |
14.41 |
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Lectures with large groups (more than 50) |
24.30 |
14.02 |
26.64 |
35.05 |
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Small Group Teaching (less than 15) |
64.61 |
16.29 |
12.92 |
6.18 |
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Group activities |
28.57 |
25.93 |
24.87 |
20.63 |
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Come prepared to the lecture or group sessions |
14.09 |
15.91 |
25.45 |
44.53 |
For all the subjects the lecturers used the lecturing method and dictating notes for most of the time. This is mostly done in groups larger than 50 students per lecturer. Small group activities are not used very frequently. The majority of the students agree that the lecturers are well prepared for the lectures. This is an important indicator because the students did experience in the past that lecturers at some teacher training institutions were not well prepared for the class. There is also a situation in African schools where teachers still tend to come unprepared to the class although this is a trend that is diminishing at the majority of the schools. With such a positive example set by the lecturers, it might be hoped that they would influence their students.
Lack of group work can be ascribed to the fact that the facilities at Hammanskraal are insufficient for such purposes. In addition, lecturers experience lack of support from tutors, for example, who could facilitate the group work. Furthermore, lack of time certainly perpetuates this situation. That is why it is often argued that lecturers can achieve more in bigger groups than working in small groups. The students want information about the examination and the lecturers try to provide an overview of the most important work for the examination. To achieve this goal the lecturing method is arguably more appropriate than small group work.
However, the second year students at the Hammanskraal campus are doing more group work activities than the first year students. The second year students are more used to the methods, to working on their own and are more aware of taking responsibility for their own studies.
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