Читать книгу How to Succeed At University--International Edition - Danton O'Day - Страница 27

Many subjects will have laboratory practicals and tutorial sessions in addition to lectures. In general, labs and tutorials will have many sections offered at different days and times and you will be given a choice of which to attend. The class size will also be smaller as a result.

Did You Know?

In some science subjects you may be given a choice whether to take just the lecture portion of the class (with reduced credits) or both the lecture and laboratory sections. However, enrolling in the laboratory portion of a class concurrently with the lecture section appears to enhance learning outcomes. A study found that introductory chemistry students enrolled in both lecture and laboratory sections obtained higher grades and were less likely to withdraw from the class compared to students who only took the lecture section.⁷

Laboratory sections are offered in science classes and consist of demonstrations and hands-on exercises. You may be required to work individually, with a partner or in a group. A lab manual that outlines the experiments and their step-by-step procedures will usually be provided. In some labs you will have ample time to finish your work, while in others every second will count. So make sure to read the lab manual and prepare well in advance.

The format of tutorials will vary depending on the subject. In areas like physics and mathematics where extensive problem solving is required, tutorials may consist of question-and-answer sessions where you can get help with your homework. Short tests or quizzes may also be given during tutorial sessions. At other times tutorials will be similar to lectures, with a professor or teaching assistant elaborating a certain topic; however, due to the smaller class size there will be a greater focus on class interaction and more opportunities to ask questions.