Truths and Myths about University Session Plan Aims: To improve understanding of the nature of higher education and to dispel common misconceptions. Objectives: To assess the level of understanding about higher education in the group. To improve the accuracy of pupils’ understanding about higher education. To identify where pupils get their information and discuss what makes a reliable source. duration Activities resources 10 mins Divide into groups (pairs work well, more than 4-5 becomes White board & Pens/flip difficult). chart & pens Ask each group to brainstorm a list of the sources they get Pens & paper information from (this doesn’t just have to be info about higher education) & also where they think myths (such as ‘urban myths’) come from. Feedback: Ask each group to give one or two examples of sources of information & write these up Ask if their understanding of higher education is gained from the sources mentioned or do they think they’re myths? 5 mins Get each group to discuss among themselves what worries them Pens & paper most about going to University or what they are unsure about. Ask each group to write a question (or 2) to which they would like to know the answer on a slip of paper. Collect these in. 10 mins Give each group a set of Truths and Myths statements (cut into Truths and Myths strips) Activity 1 – List of Ask them to sort them into three piles ‘Truth’, ‘Myth’ and ‘Don’t Statements - one per know’ group (printed out and Warn them that they will have to justify their decision to place cut into strips) each statement in a particular pile. 15 mins Feedback How many of each type did each group have? Are there any big differences between the number of ‘Truth’ statements identified by the groups? Choose a statement and ask a group to say whether they think it is true and why – does anyone disagree? Add additional detail from the Detailed Explanations sheet if appropriate. Truths & Myths of Continue through the statements as time allows. University – Detailed Explanations 5 mins Using the slips of paper that you collected in earlier, convert the questions that the groups wanted answering into statements and ask whether the class thinks they are a Truth or a Myth. Teaching Note: Most of the questions should be answered by the detailed explanations sheet but you may have to provide an answer and assign ‘truth’ or ‘myth’ status for some of them 0-5 mins Optional: Conclusion: Discuss where the ideas came from for statements that were wrongly assigned. Where does that misconception come from? What would be reliable sources of information if pupils want to find out more about higher education? (see end of detailed explanations sheet for a list of websites) Optional: Pupils can be given handouts of the explanation sheets Detailed Explanation to take away – you can reduce the 4 pages onto 1 A4 sheet while Sheet – 1 per student still being able to read them. 40-45 Total time mins Resources used: Truths and Myths About University Activity 1 - Statements Truths and Myths About University – Detailed Explanations Paper and pens White board & pens/Flip chart & pens Truths and Myths about University Activity 1 List of Statements 1. You have to do A levels to go to university 2. A full-time course means being at university from 9am until 5pm 3. You can live at home and still go to university 4. Many universities employ students in part-time jobs while they are studying 5. Tuition Fees have to be paid to the university before you start your degree 6. There are lots of non-repayable grants available for students 7. When you start work, the rate at which you repay your student loan depends on how much you earn not how much you borrowed. 8. Higher Education courses last for 3 years 9. You can do a degree if you have dyslexia 10. A personal tutor will check that you are doing your homework every week 11. All HE teaching is done in large lecture theatres 12. There are computers available for anyone to use in most Learning Resource Centres (University libraries) 13. There is no-one to turn to if you are finding it difficult to cope 14. An undergraduate is someone who is waiting to go to university 15. You don’t have to be rich to go to university 16. There is no point in going to university when you could be gaining work experience during those years 17. Only practical courses like Business Studies or Law help you get a job 18. If you find you have chosen the wrong course you can change to another subject 19. You can take higher education courses in surfing and knitwear 20. You have big exams at the end of each year but only the ones in the final year count. Truths and Myths about University Detailed Explanations 1.You have to do A levels to go to university False There are many qualifications that are accepted by Universities – AS and A2, Key Skills, 14-19 Diploma, BTEC National Diploma, Access courses. Some courses ask for GSCE qualifications at Grade C or above, usually in Maths and English Language and sometimes in Science and Languages. Check the prospectus for the specific course requirements as each course at each university and college will be different. If you’re not sure whether your qualifications will be suitable it is worth contacting the university to ask. 2. A full-time course means being at university from 9am until 5pm False Some courses have very full timetables. Practical subjects with lab work, and Teacher Training courses tend to have the largest amount of contact (direct teaching) time. Many other courses will expect students to do most of the work independently in their own time. As a guide you might expect to be in university three of four days a week, and will be expected to do a significant amount of independent study, a bit like homework. 3. You can live at home and still go to university True Some students choose a course at a university away from their homes. It may be that a particular course is only available at that university or that they want to get to know a new city, town or part of the country. Living in halls of residence can provide an opportunity to become immersed in student life or some students want the added independence of living away from home while studying. An increasing number of students attend universities and colleges that are close enough to allow them to remain at home. This means they can stay in the area that they know, they have the support of their family, it is usually cheaper to live at home, they might have a part-time job that they want to keep, their friends may all be staying locally or they may help to look after the younger or older members of the family. Some students start off living at home and move into shared houses later in the course; others spend the first year in halls and then move back home. 4. Many universities employ students in part-time jobs while they are studying True Most students combine study and work in some way, either during term time, at weekends and/or in the holidays. Universities and colleges often employ students to work in their enquiries offices, in the catering and grounds departments, as note takers for students with disabilities or in occasional work as guides at Open Days, school liaison events etc. Universities and colleges that have a policy of employing students are usually understanding about the demands of exams and assessments at certain times of year. 5. Tuition fees have to be paid to the university before you start your degree False Tuition fees for 2009 entry will be £3225 but students receive a loan to cover these costs each year and can defer paying this loan back until after they finish their course, start working and are earning over £15,000 per year. 6. There are lots of non-repayable grants available for students True Most students take out student loans to help with their living expenses, but there are still some sources of money, available to certain students, that do not have to be repaid. If you are from a household with an income up to £50,000 you will be eligible for a Maintenance Grant of up to £2906 per year (this is measured on a sliding scale, households with an income of £25,000 or less will receive the full amount and households with an income of over £50,000 will not receive any grant). If you get the full maintenance grant and your course fees are the maximum rate (£3225) your university will automatically give you a non-repayable access bursary of at least £320 per year. In 2009 the Exeter Access Bursary will be up to £1,500 and the University also offers a South West Access to Exeter Bursary of up to £1,500 per year for those who resident in the region who demonstrate the most need. There are also grants if you have dependents, a disability, extra travel costs, are a care leaver. Each university also has an Access to Learning Fund for students in financial hardship. Most academic institutions also offer merit-based scholarships and sponsorships, generally based on achievement and potential in a certain field and each with its own conditions, which range from a couple of hundred pounds to several thousand.