Study activities
While at university you may be required to attend lectures, tutorials, seminars, field trips and work place learning, all of which contribute to your learning experience. Each type offers a slightly different method of delivery and is often chosen based on the material to be communicated and the subject's learning requirements.
Lectures
Lectures are an important part of your course as they deliver much of the content for assessment in your subject. Lectures are typically for one to two hours. You may be required to attend one or two each week, per subject.
Lectures are attended by all students taking the subject and can be quite large in size. Students typically listen to a lecturer or professor and take notes. There are some opportunities for questions however, tutorials traditionally provide the necessary, dedicated time slot for discussing the information learned during lecture. You can ask questions and receive feedback in relation to course content during tutorial time.
Tutorials
Tutorials are an opportunity to go over course content conveyed during lectures and may involve individual and/or group activities and presentations as part of your assessment, in addition to your scheduled assignments.
Tutorials usually run for one to two hours. Depending on your subject requirements you will be required to attend one tutorial a week as a compulsory part of your learning. In most cases you must attend all tutorials as part of your assessment. If you miss more than two or three tutorials in a semester without a valid medical reason you risk failure of the subject. It will be assumed you have not attended enough of your course to fully understand it.
There are often several tutorial time slots available for enrolment so that you may coordinate your timetable to suit your lifestyle. Once enrolled in a tutorial you must attend the same one each week. In most cases, enrolment in tutorials takes place during the second week of semester using an online enrolment system called Oasis. More information about Oasis and enrolment may be found on the Oasis site. Tutorials have limited class sizes to maximise learning and hence work on a first in first served basis. For the best tutorial times it is recommended you jump online, log in and are ready to go the moment your enrolment session goes live.
Seminars
Seminars are different from both lectures and tutorials; they are effectively a fusion of both. During a seminar, information and course content is presented with the opportunity for questions and feedback. Like tutorials, seminars may involve individual and group activities or presentations as part of your assessment, in addition to your scheduled assignments.
Seminars are a compulsory and intrinsic part of your learning. They make up both the delivery of course content and any opportunity for questions, feedback and in-class assessment. Seminars typically run for between two and three hours and are usually offered once a week.
Failure to attend seminars is detrimental to your learning as in many cases one seminar may cover an entire topic of study. In addition, not attending the minimum required number of seminars may result in course requirements not being met, potentially resulting in failure of the subject.
Field trips
Field trips are a valuable part of your course learning experience. Not all subjects offer field trips and in some cases field trips may not be compulsory. Field trips enable the application of theoretical knowledge in a real world environment; they offer a chance to get out of the classroom and apply your new analytical and technical skills.
In circumstances where field trips are compulsory, they usually make up part of your assessment or provide a large proportion of content necessary for the completion of an assignment.
Workplace learning
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) involves educational activities that integrate theoretical learning with practical application in the workplace. WIL is acknowledged as being an effective learning tool for students in the higher education sector and involves students earning credit towards their degree programs through work placements or simulations. WIL is endorsed by the Federal Government as well as industry groups such as the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Work Integrated Learning offerings are constantly expanding across the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law. There is regular development of new subjects and activities and review of those currently in place. The activities give you opportunities to engage in 'real world' work environments with La Trobe industry partners.
