A simple guide to higher education

1. A Simple Guide to
Higher Education
Compiled By
Nalaka Gamage
Aurora Computer Studies
(auoracs.lk)
Aurora Computer Studies
(www.auroracs.lk)
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2. Agenda
• What is education ?
• Levels of education
• Types of education
• What is higher education ?
• Modes of higher education
• Challenges in higher education
• The new trends
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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3. What is education?
• Education is the process of
facilitating learning.
• Knowledge, skills, values, beliefs,
and habits transferred to people,
through storytelling, discussion,
teaching, training, or research.
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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4. Types of education
• Formal education
• Informal education
o Informal modes
o Life experience
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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5. Levels of formal education
1. Preschool
2. Primary
3. Secondary
4. Tertiary (higher)
5. Special
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6. Preschool
• Typically at ages 3-7 years
• Also known as nursery schools or
kindergarten (except in USA)
• Child centered
• Aaim at unfolding the child's physical,
intellectual,
and moral nature with
balanced emphasis on
each of them.
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7. Primary education
• Consists of the first 5 to 7 years of
formal, structured education
• Emphasis on basic
o Language skills
o Arithmetic skills
o Environment & cultural awareness
o Etc..
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8. Secondary education
• The formal education that occurs
during adolescence (teenage
years).
• Typically from grade 8 to 12.
• Provide both life skills and job
oriented knowledge and skills
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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9. Higher (Tertiary ) education
• Normally taken to include
undergraduate and postgraduate
education, as well as vocational
education and training.
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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10. Special education
• Education for children/people
with special needs
o e.g.: with disabilities
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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11. Criticisms on secondary
education system
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12. • It is still catering for the need of
industrial era (18th and 19th century)
• Modern Schools still produce workers
for factory model
o Produce students in batches resembling product
batches
o Separate sections resembling factory line
o Strict time regulations to prepare office discipline
o Not enough room for question & discuss ideas
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Criticisms on current
secondary education (cont.)

13. How higher education differ
from secondary education
• You are now adult & not a teenage
o Can make decisions on your own
o More financial freedom if you earn your own
• Facilitate you to study than formal
teaching
• Broader objectives
o Understanding
o Professionalism
o Responsibilities
o Application of skills & knowledge
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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14. Objectives of higher education
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15. Types of higher education
• Knowledge/academic oriented
o General degrees
• Art
• Science
• Professional oriented
o Professional degrees
• Engineering/IT
• Medicine
• Business Management
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16. Characteristics of a learned
• In-depth Knowledge on specific
areas
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17. Characteristics of an intelligent
• Logical / Critical thinking
• Ability to abstract
concepts
• Imagination
• Creativity
• Problem solving
• Self-awareness
• Adaptivity
• etc..
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18. Characteristics of a professional
• Competency
o You are knowledgeable & Skilled in your professional area
• Accountability
o You take responsibility of your professional conduct
• Respect
o Duly respect your co-workers, customers, etc.. and their
differences
• Lawful & Ethical
• Integrity
o Honest and respect legal & ethical aspects even in
difficult conditions
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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19. Modes of higher education
• Formal fulltime higher education
o More applicable to in depth disciplines like medicine
& traditional engineering fields
• Formal part-time higher education
o Study either in a university or affiliated college at part
time
o Can study while work
o Popular study areas
• Management/Business studies
• Law
• IT/Computing
• Etc..
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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20. Trends in higher education
• More emphasis on practical skills
than tons of theory
• More emphasis on understanding
than memorizing
o Less emphasis on exams and more on
assignments/project work.
o Change of context in exam questions from
theory to practical questions
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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21. Trends in higher education (cont.)
• More emphasis on self study
o Use of internet help this
o Formal virtual learning environments (VLE) with
organized study resources
• T-shaped skills
o In depth knowledge in specialization
o Breadth of knowledge an supplementary areas
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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22. Trends in higher education (cont.)
• Make higher education more
affordable (economical)
• Make education more reachable
o Part time study options
o More emphasis on internet based e-learning
• Use of social media for community
based collaborative learning
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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23. Useful Resources
• http://auroracs.lk/careers-and-
professionalism
• http://auroracs.lk/science-and-
art-of-learning
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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24. "We are what we repeatedly
do. Excellence, then, is not
an act, but a habit."
~ Aristotle.
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(www.auroracs.lk)
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25. Thank You !
Presented by
Nalaka Gamage
Aurora Computer Studies
(auoracs.lk)
Aurora Computer Studies
(www.auroracs.lk)
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