a simple guide to higher education

A Simple Guide to Higher Education

Compiled By

Nalaka Gamage

Aurora Computer Studies

(auoracs.lk)


(www.auroracs.lk)1

http://www.auoracs.lk/

Agenda

• What is education ?

• Levels of education

• Types of education

• What is higher education ?

• Modes of higher education

• Challenges in higher education

• The new trends


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What is education?

• Education is the process of

facilitating learning.

• Knowledge, skills, values, beliefs,

and habits transferred to people,

through storytelling, discussion,

teaching, training, or research.


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Types of education

• Formal education

• Informal educationo Informal modes

o Life experience


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Levels of formal education

1. Preschool

2. Primary

3. Secondary

4. Tertiary (higher)

5. Special


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Preschool

• Typically at ages 3-7 years

• Also known as nursery schools or kindergarten (except in USA)

• Child centered

• Aaim at unfolding the child's physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them.


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Primary education

• Consists of the first 5 to 7 years of

formal, structured education

• Emphasis on basico Language skills

o Arithmetic skills

o Environment & cultural awareness

o Etc..


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Secondary education

• The formal education that occurs

during adolescence (teenage

years).

• Typically from grade 8 to 12.

• Provide both life skills and job

oriented knowledge and skills


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Higher (Tertiary ) education

• Normally taken to include

undergraduate and postgraduate

education, as well as vocational

education and training.


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Special education

• Education for children/people

with special needso e.g.: with disabilities


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Criticisms on secondary

education system


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• It is still catering for the need of

industrial era (18th and 19th century)

• Modern Schools still produce workers

for factory modelo Produce students in batches resembling product

batches

o Separate sections resembling factory line

o Strict time regulations to prepare office discipline

o Not enough room for question & discuss ideas


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Criticisms on current

secondary education (cont.)

How higher education differ

from secondary education

• You are now adult & not a teenageo Can make decisions on your own

o More financial freedom if you earn your own

• Facilitate you to study than formal teaching

• Broader objectiveso Understanding

o Professionalism

o Responsibilities

o Application of skills & knowledge


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Objectives of higher education


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Types of higher education

• Knowledge/academic orientedo General degrees

• Art

• Science

• Professional orientedo Professional degrees

• Engineering/IT

• Medicine

• Business Management


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Characteristics of a learned

• In-depth Knowledge on specific

areas


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Characteristics of an intelligent

• Logical / Critical thinking

• Ability to abstract concepts

• Imagination

• Creativity

• Problem solving

• Self-awareness

• Adaptivity

• etc..


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Characteristics of a professional

• Competencyo You are knowledgeable & Skilled in your professional area

• Accountabilityo You take responsibility of your professional conduct

• Respecto Duly respect your co-workers, customers, etc.. and their

differences

• Lawful & Ethical

• Integrityo Honest and respect legal & ethical aspects even in

difficult conditions


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Modes of higher education

• Formal fulltime higher educationo More applicable to in depth disciplines like medicine

& traditional engineering fields

• Formal part-time higher educationo Study either in a university or affiliated college at part

time

o Can study while work

o Popular study areas

• Management/Business studies

• Law

• IT/Computing

• Etc..


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Trends in higher education

• More emphasis on practical skills

than tons of theory

• More emphasis on understanding

than memorizingo Less emphasis on exams and more on

assignments/project work.

o Change of context in exam questions from

theory to practical questions


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Trends in higher education (cont.)

• More emphasis on self studyo Use of internet help this

o Formal virtual learning environments (VLE) with

organized study resources

• T-shaped skillso In depth knowledge in specialization

o Breadth of knowledge an supplementary areas


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Trends in higher education (cont.)

• Make higher education more

affordable (economical)

• Make education more reachableo Part time study options

o More emphasis on internet based e-learning

• Use of social media for community

based collaborative learning


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Useful Resources

• http://auroracs.lk/careers-and-

professionalism

• http://auroracs.lk/science-and-

art-of-learning


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http://auroracs.lk/careers-and-professionalism

http://auroracs.lk/science-and-art-of-learning

"We are what we repeatedly

do. Excellence, then, is not

an act, but a habit."

~ Aristotle.


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Thank You !

Presented by

Nalaka Gamage


(auoracs.lk)


(www.auroracs.lk)25

http://www.auoracs.lk/