| High School |
College |
| Tasks more structured |
Tasks less structured |
| Step-by-step instructions
given |
Student held responsible for
developing a method to complete tasks |
| Grades based on a variety of
activities |
Grades based on fewer tasks or
larger projects; Semester grades sometimes based on two or
three test scores and exams cover more information |
| Assignments are modified or
shortened |
Assignments are not modified
or shortened |
| Extra time given to complete
assignments |
Assignments must be completed
by deadline; Students are expected to modify course load in
order to meet deadlines (i.e., take fewer courses) |
| Teachers help prepare students
for exams |
Student responsible for own
exam preparation |
| Exam questions tend to be
objective |
Exam questions more difficult
to predict; exams require more writing and essay exams more
common |
| Just memorizing facts may be
sufficient to pass tests |
Harder work required for
earning good grades; more major writing assignments;
effective communication skills more important; paying
attention in class more important; studying more important |
| Teachers trained in teacher
education programs |
Instructors trained in
content/skill areas; instruction often provided via lecture;
lecture may cover different information than textbook;
instructors rarely suggest ways to learn material; much less
direct teacher contact; student must be flexible and learn
at a pace established by instructors |
| Homework requires limited time |
Student spends two or four
hours doing homework for every hour spent in class |
| Homework assigned on a day to
day basis |
Long-range, comprehensive
assignments given |
| Instruction more experiential;
student learns by doing and experiencing
|
Effective reading
comprehension skills more important; good note-taking more
important; few visual and study aids provided; identifying
main ideas more important |
| Most classes meet everyday |
Classes may meet less often;
less time in the classroom |
| Most classes have a maximum of
25-30 students |
Classes have from 20-500
students |
| Monitoring of progress done by
other people |
Student progress may not be
monitored closely by instructors; student needs to
self-monitor progress |
| Exam questions may be
clarified and paraphrased |
Reader for exams only reads
questions exactly as written (no paraphrasing or
clarification of questions) |
| Student may rely on external
motivators |
Self-evaluations; motivation
must be internalized |
| Teachers recognize the need to
help students and provide the help |
Student must independently
seek additional and supplementary sources of information;
student must initiate requests for additional help |
| |
Student has opportunity to
take web-based, internet courses, tele-courses, or distance
learning courses |
