order of weekly lectures, workshops/practicals and tutes

[M-D]

hi,

I wanted to know if when setting up my timetable I should ensure that I have lectures first then pracs/workshops and finally tutorials or does it really not matter meaning that theory from a lecture will not be needed in a prac or tute and knowledge from a prac will not be needed for a tute. Please keep in mind that this is for science and math subjects.

Thank you for your help

[golden]

This depends on the subject itself, but it shouldn't be too much of an issue either way.

Let's suppose that you had practicals on Mondays yet have lectures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. This is not too much of a worry, because subjects usually have their practicals not start on the first week so the lectures and practicals will be in time for one another. The main issues with having practicals early is that A. it might be that you have a practical right after learning the theory if the subject happens to run it that way or runs late etc. (therefore it can affect your score if you don't do as well) and B. you won't get to ask any questions with those who have already done it. But the upside is that you get it done with quickly, so you can consolidate the material earlier and move on with the rest of the week. Practicals also don't necessarily run every week for science based subjects. Because tutorials often also test the theory not long after it is learned, you may find that tutorials do not also start on the first week. But once again, this depends on the subject etc. etc. but the sciences and maths as I have found usually follow the above description.

On reflection I have come to the belief that I actually like having practicals early and bunched up together (it was on a Tuesday), as tiring as it was.

[M-D]

thanks for your reply.

What about tutes, should I always schedule them after the week's lectures for that subject so that I may able to clarify any difficult concepts I have not grasped or does it really not matter having them before or after the week's lectures?

By the way what is the main purpose of tutes, does the tutor just go over the lecture's content again or does the group solve problems with the tutor?

thanks

[golden]

Depends on the course. Usually, you will have content either published online or purchased from the bookstore so that you work through those problems in class; if you have any issues they can talk you through it. The format of the class really depends on the tutor, sometimes they will go through some theory (quickly), sometimes they go straight into the questions.

The tutorials are really optional where you schedule them, because they tend not to start first week anyway so will be in time for the theory; there are exceptions as I have mentioned in my earlier post. It would probably be best to position the tutorials in the most convenient time for you whether it be to travel to university or just in general rather than trying to anticipate whether or not the theory will be in time.

[John President]

For most subjects, tutorials usually cover material from the previous week of lectures. Therefore early in the week (Monday or Tuesday, for those of you not familiar with days of the week) is best.

[Starlight]

For most subjects, tutorials usually cover material from the previous week of lectures. Therefore early in the week (Monday or Tuesday, for those of you not familiar with days of the week) is best.

I kept my tutorials in the end of the week last sem and I found it was better. Some people were learning new concepts that hadn't even been covered in lectures yet when they scheduled their tutorials earlier on in the week