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What percentage (roughly) of your lecturers inspired you, when you were a
student?
Probably 1 in 4 in the first/second year. More in the final year as we were in smaller groups, they got to know us etc My expectations of what life at University would be like were sadly daskhd as a whole. I expeced more interaction, discussion and saw mostly lectures. Like most peop[le I accepted and adapted but it left a sour taste and was one of the reasons I entered this field at a later date.
What did they actually DO which inspired you?
Talked about their research. Showed a real interest in my progress. Jusr caring enough to treat us as people!
What sort of people were they - was it more about what they WERE than
about what they DID which inspired you?
I was never impressed by academics that could not communicate and teach. This is an essential part of what it means to be an academic. Being really really clever is not enough. So it was what they did. They tended to be friendly people.
What else (besides your lecturers) inspired you as a student?
I did a sandwich course so spent a year in research. That inspired me and made me more demanding in the final year. I cannot recall ever really having an academic conversation with other students. Even then most were more interested in beating the system than benifiting from it but perhaps they would have behaved differently had they been treated differently.
Looking back I am embaressed just how much I accepted. I feel that the fast track from school and through university as fast as you can manage it produces a very standardised and shallow 'product' and I am encouraged to see more people returning to education with some experience of life under theor belts. I hope they make more demands on universities.
Graham Lewis
Centre for Academic Practice
University of Warwick
University House
Kirby Corner Road
Coventry CV4 8UW
UK
Tel.: (+44) (0) 24 765 72737
Mobile: 07733450022
Fax.: (+44) (0) 24 765 727326
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/cap/about/staff/lewis/
http://innovations.warwick.ac.uk/innovations/
http://cap.warwick.ac.uk/tdf
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