This Course has helped me get a clear understanding about College life in American Universities. How to succeed as a student and other aspects to help make college life a fullfilling experience.

It gives much useful information before coming to study in a foreign univeristy. Thank you so much for your well-organized courses.

Excellent course that illustrates what a future college student should expect in a higher institution.

A in-depth college tour that wasn't bias in shape or form.

I definitely learned alot especially about college life.

Excellent course. Thanks a lot.

I'd say its pretty good

I've been to college, so I'm not the target audience for this course, but I was curious to see what would be covered and to learn more about colleges today. I felt the course covered mostly simplistic, obvious stuff and left out a lot that many students wonder about.

One topic that was covered was the different activities of professors. I wished I'd known more about this when I started college. Of course I knew they did research, but I thought they were primarily there to teach. This is true at some colleges, but at others, the amount and quality of research can determine whether a professor gets to continue working there and reach tenure. So teaching may not be the first priority for some professors. Students may find that chunks of courses are devoted to a professor's research interests, which could enrich or derail the course. This could have been covered in more depth.

Other things that could have been covered: why some courses are so large and the function of recitation sections and graduate teaching fellows for those and smaller courses; what a seminar is; the existence of course reviews that can help with selecting classes and professors; how to deal with not getting into a course you really need to take (wait lists, professorial overrides, etc.); when pre-requisite courses are really necessary and when they're just recommended; dropping courses; GRADES (how the college grading system works, what happens when you fail a course, academic probation, earning honors); campus codes of conduct (greater freedom as with class attendance; smoking and drinking rules, harassment policies) and disciplinary actions (disciplinary probation, expulsion); good campus activities for shy students.

This type of study allows the student to learn by making connections between ideas and concepts across different disciplinary boundaries. Students learning in this way are able to apply the knowledge gained in one discipline to another different discipline as a way to deepen the learning experience. The most effective approach to interdisciplinary study enables students to build their own interdisciplinary pathway by choosing courses which make sense to them. For example, it is not too difficult to find a theme which crosses over disciplinary boundaries in literature, art and history or science and mathematics. Studying topics thematically is one way to bring ideas together resulting in more meaningful learning. This can occur by allowing students to choose their own subjects and their learning is deepened when they reflect on the connections between what they are learning in different disciplines.

One of the biggest barriers to achieving true interdisciplinary study in education environments is the necessity for collaboration of educators. This can be difficult to achieve, but not impossible. Interdisciplinary teaching and learning is maximised when professionals from different disciplines work together to serve a common purpose and to help students make the connections between different disciplines or subject areas. Such interaction is in support of the constructivist paradigm which allows for new knowledge construction and a deeper understanding of ideas than disciplinary study.

What is a constructivist paradigm?

Constructivism is a theory about how people learn. This theory suggests that people create their own understanding and knowledge of the world through experiences and reflection on those experiences. It goes on to suggest that when students encounter something new, they have to integrate it with previous ideas and experiences by connecting the new knowledge to something already known. It may mean the students are studying something completely new and different. Sometimes it will result in the student rejecting the ideas completely. Above all, the theory assumes that we are active creators of our own knowledge requiring students to ask questions, explore, and assess what is known or learned. Students engaging in interdisciplinary study are therefore creating their own understanding and knowledge of the world through their study choices.

What is so beneficial about this type of study?

Making connections between different concepts is essential in interdisciplinary study. Here are some other benefits of studying in this way:

Students are highly motivated as they have a vested interest in pursuing topics that are interesting to them. As a result, the content is often rooted in life experiences, giving an authentic purpose for the learning and connecting it to a real world context. Consequently, the learning becomes meaningful, purposeful and deeper resulting in learning experiences that stay with the student for a lifetime.Students cover topics in more depth because they are considering the many and varied perspectives from which a topic can be explored.Critical thinking skills are used and developed as students look across disciplinary boundaries to consider other viewpoints and also begin to compare and contrast concepts across subject areas.Students begin to consolidate learning by synthesising ideas from many perspectives and consider an alternative way of acquiring knowledge.Exploring topics across a range of subject boundaries motivates students to pursue new knowledge in different subject areas.Transferable skills of critical thinking, synthesis and research are developed and are applicable to future learning experiences.Interdisciplinary knowledge and application of different disciplines can lead to greater creativity.Worthwhile topics of research can fall in the ‘spaces’ between the traditional disciplines.Final thoughts

Interdisciplinary study allows for synthesis of ideas and the synthesis of characteristics from many disciplines. At the same time it addresses students’ individual differences and helps to develop important, transferable skills. These skills, such as critical thinking, communication and analysis are important and continually developing at all stages of life. Educational systems are serving students best if they enable and encourage students to build their own interdisciplinary pathway. This approach is sure to foster a love of learning, ignite a spark of enthusiasm and address learning differences for student

As an asocial person I had struggles with understanding the social context in a university, The attributions of a professor beyond the teaching part, this course presented some good objective and also subjective points of view and now I can be much more relax.

I thought this course was excellent. If you are starting out in college, this course is for you. It goes through great details about what to do while your at college. Please take it if you are starting out. Its very informative.

I like the course and it is very helpful, I watched it because I am a mom. my daughter is at caltech. I want to understand what she is going through.

thanks

fatma koca from Turkey Ankara

It's really helpful for Undergrats to know more about University. Especially for students who wants to know how to use the resources or financial aid.

This is a wonderful course with in-depth guidelines. It will be very beneficial for anyone going to college, university, or already in there.

A must-take course for every freshman to prepare for college in all aspects and get familiar with college life. Simple and useful content.

I found it very interesting,moreover as a key to how to prepare ourselves at the university level and enjoy the academic life.

Excellent, with all information about college life. Please do this course if you want to start a more organised college life.

Very informative; even though I am a junior in high school, this enlightened my insight for college and makes success easier.

Really! This is an excellent course for future college students. It helped so much and I hope that it will help you out too.

A great introduction course for university life and I had gain a lot of ideas and picture about college and universities.

Amazing experience it was. Such in depth information would definitely help us get into a good college life.

It hardly effect on my mind and body in college.

My behavior is change and adapt college life as well.

Quite a wonderful course for people to get familiar with college and how to find their way in life...

Great information for ones who are in college or will get there soon. Absolutely recommended :)

Well rounded orientation. Very well organized and good amount of information for new entrants.