Teaching and Learning
The quality of teaching and learning at The University of Manchester is unrivalled. In formal assessments of teaching Manchester's School of Education is consistently highly rated, with all subjects rated as Excellent by The Quality Assurance Agency and by the TTA /OFSTED
Academic year
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Students take 120 credits made up of 10 or 20 credit rated "course units" each year. Some (usually 10 credits) are taught and examined during a single semester, but some (usually 20 credits) are taught throughout both semesters and examined at the end of the second semester. Examination may be by a variety of methods including: written assignments, unseen or seen formal examinations, portfolios, group tasks, case studies etc.
Most first and second year course units in the School of Education are taught through a series of lectures and seminars.
You will also be required to submit essays or other pieces of work, which may not be formally assessed towards the award yet which contribute to your development
Lectures
Lectures are the most traditional form of teaching in higher education. They allow lecturers to provide information, to place the course material in context and to focus on difficult areas.
Lecturers will also distribute handout material which is designed to supplement your textbooks and other learning materials.
However lectures need to be supported by independent study and wider reading on the subject undertaken outside the formal contact hours.
Seminars
Seminar groups are smaller discussion groups of students, designed to enhance your understanding of the subject matter presented in the lectures. Some course units have seminars as well as lectures.
Students are required to prepare material in advance, either for discussion in the seminar, or in the form of written work to be handed in.
Other Methods
On many of the courses students undertake group work which may also be assessed by tutors or be subject to peer assessment. Student compiled Portfolios are used in some course units, as are formally assessed group or solo presentations, research based dissertations and research projects
In all cases the criteria for marking are known to the students and they receive feedback from the tutor on their work