New methods of teaching urged

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 16

New methods of teaching urged

The traditional university lecture system was a medieval expedient that should have little place in modern education, according to Professor J. Jones, who has been a professor of English at the University of Texas since 1958.

Professor Jones, author of a definitive work on Samuel Butler written after his last visit to New Zealand in 1952, said in Christchurch that universities must give students more responsibility for their own learning. “The old system of lectures was fine in medieval times when there were few books and fewer authorities —but now this system is just not on,” he said. Far greater use needed to be made by universities of instruction in small groups and also of individual academic counselling. “To just lecture at them for 45 minutes is a pretty poor way to introduce students to modem techniques of learning, especially in view of the need for society to view learning as a continuing process.” Professor Jones said he regarded as potentially dangerous views that education was a series of watertight compartments. The treatment of knowledge in this manner magnified differences between people and often accelerated 'the aggressive stance of (small groups. i “Chopping up education into a series of often un- : connected subjects can lead i to narrow-minded and societies generally. ; unable to adapt to change.” j Commenting on the role of (television in education, Pro-

fessor Jones said that the medium presented the world with its best chance of ensuring a system of continuing education.

Professional and academic groups should not be so suspicious of television and they should take every available opportunity to participate in its planning and production, he said.