Lesson Tutoring reflection

As well as having a mentor to discuss parts of my course with I have also had in depth discussions with my fellow class mates and the respective teacher for the lesson that I’m having the problem with. I have found it very invaluable having many people to talk with about different sections of the course and it’s a great outlet for anything your feeling. I’ve found that all of the teachers have been very helpful with any question that I’ve had about the course as a whole or just a particular lesson, even if I don’t understand it initially they’ve come back with a better and clearer way to get the point across.

Mentor Session reflection

For my mentor I have used a Civil Engineering Graduate who has recently joined are firm after leaving university and completely a master’s degree in civil engineering. I found him invaluable with helping me from just the normal day to day tasks of a university student with the studying on your free time and with revision for the all important exams. There were a few people I could have chosen from work but I’ve found that because he’s around the same age as me and has also just finished his final studies it’s a lot easier and is still in touch with what’s happening within the education system. Unlike say an engineer you graduated some 20 odd years ago the whole learning experience would have been very different then and also the way you were taught.

Surface and Deep Learning

Surface Learning
- Learning to specifically meet course requirements
- Studying unrelated bits of knowledge
- Memorising facts and figures to repeat
- No linking or connection of learning

The surface approach to learning comes from “the intention to get the task out of the way with minimum trouble while appearing to meet course requirements” (Biggs, 2003, p14). This often includes rote learning content, filling an essay with detail rather than discussion and list points rather than providing background or context to the work.

Deep Learning
- Learning that seeks to understand and connect the concepts
- Relates ideas to previous knowledge and experience
- Explores links between evidence and conclusions
- Critiques arguments and examines rationale

The deep approach comes “from a felt need to engage the task appropriately and meaningfully, so the student tries to use the most appropriate cognitive activities for handling it” (Biggs, 2003, p16). Using this approach students make a real effort to connect with and understand what they are learning. This requires a strong base knowledge for students to then build on seeking both detailed information and trying to understand the bigger picture

In reflection of Surface and Deep Learning I’d very much say I was a bit of both learning techniques. On one hand sometimes I only learn what’s specifically required for the course and no more, I’m also very good at memorizing facts and figures but then I don’t study unrelated bits of knowledge which is all included within surface learning. For Deep Learning I also use some of those techniques for example relating ideas to previous knowledge and experience.