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Teaching, learning and assessment

At university, your child is likely to have learning and assessment experiences very different from those they've had in school.

For example, they may have different learning environments and more detailed discussion. Classes at university may include lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions, with varying levels of student participation and staff supervision.

Also, class contact is only a small part of university; students are expected to do a lot of reading and work on assignments outside class. Teaching staff provide deadlines early in semester and may assume students don't need reminding. This means students need to manage their time very efficiently.

Furthermore, university assignments can be structured differently to schoolwork. Students need to do extensive independent research and to provide detailed references for the books, articles and websites they use when writing assignments. Assessment methods may also be different from those at school.

Finally, your child may have different lecturers and tutors at different times, and the relationships they have with teaching staff may not be the same as those they’ve had with school teachers.

Some tips to make these changes easier:

  • Encourage your child to take some time to read the La Trobe Handbook and find out what's involved in their chosen course – the subjects offered, class formats, and teaching and assessment methods.
  • Before they finish school, encourage them to come to on-campus events.
  • When they start university, help them structure a weekly schedule that allows them plenty of time for reading and working on assignments between classes, as well as part-time work if required.