Reappraisal Of Course Content Suggested

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31994, 22 May 1969, Page 22

Reappraisal Of Course Content Suggested

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 21.

Delegates from New Zealand’s seven university institutions heard a suggestion in Wellington today that the content of university courses might be reappraised for its relevance to the needs of contemporary society and to the existing state of knowledge.

The suggestion was in a special research paper before the conference of university institutions at Victoria University of Wellington.

The paper, on "The Quality and Performance of Students,” was prepared jointly by members of the universities of Canterbury and Otago. Reappraisal of course content in relation to society's needs was put forward as a means of providing incentive, and in relation to the existing state of knowledge as a means of reducing unnecessary load, it said.

The paper gave special attention to student performance in the first academic year. It was noted that the inclusion of tests and essays done during the year in the final assessment of a student’s performance was already a widespread university practice.

Without necessarily penalising the student who fixed his aim on excellence in the final examination, such a method of assessment could help a “poor examinee” towards a deserved. pass, the paper said. This procedure was well justified. . At the same time the system involved harder and steadier work for both staff and students. It passed much of the responsibility to junior staff members and could affect the confidence felt by students in their tutors, who became, in effect, perpetual examiners.

“Together with research and dissemination of the results, a need has been recognised for offering service to university departments . . . as well as the sponsoring of courses and seminars on subjects of interest to both academic and administrative staff,” the paper said.