The Students in 2013

Ever wonder an undergraduate student study nowadays? When I was in college, we were told to read lots of books, journals, trade publications, magazines and newspaper. Most of these materials can be found in the library. As a student, I cannot afford to purchase these study materials and have to read it at the library. I belief most of us who has gone through your undergraduate life in the 80's and 90's knows what I am referring to.

We don't have high speed Internet, and even to use e-publications, I need to login via VIrtual Private Network in the college. With the limited Internet speed, everyone have to wait for their turns to search for e-journals. At that time, my lecturers used to help us to source of relevant journals and share with us in the class. The moment we got the articles, we were very excited and read it immediately, hoping that we can catch up with our studies by reading more.

It was like a privilege to be able to study for a degree programme for me as I have chosen to study in private higher institution and taking a UK degree. At that time, I was hoping to complete the course within a specific time and prevent from money wasted unnecessarily. As what I can remember, there were lots of reading and practicing of answering case studies and essays.

When we got our test, exam, and assignment results, we were so eager to find out what went wrong and reflect on our work for days. We even work in groups to identify our weaknesses and make sure we know how to minimize the mistakes in the next assessment. We feel so glad to hear and/or read comments from our lecturers so that we can reflect on it and know more about ourselves.

Today, as an educator, I try to replicate my lecturers' efforts to teach my students, hoping that they will learn more and gain better knowledge than us in the past. However, things has changed. I was really shocked when I got to know that many students now don't read textbook, even the main text for a subject that the student is taking. What they read to prepare for exam? Slides for each topics given by the lecturers. How about references for the assignment? Not textbooks, but google for keywords and from various webpages, including slideshares, wiki, etc.

Thanks to the development of the Internet edge, students attitude towards education is no more the same as in the pass. Many might be thinking that education is just merely a paper for them to show to the company when they are applying got a job with higher expectation. I am not referring to all the students out there, but some whom I taught recently. The want fast, easy, simple and no hassle learning experience. Basically, they expect to spend minimum time on studying so that they can enjoy their own lifestyle. As long as they attended the classes every week, it is considered as they study hard. Most of them just for to the library in group for chatting and satisfying social needs.

How they see the assessment? Next post, I will share more of my experience.