Tutorials and Seminars
What are seminars and tutorials and why do we have them?
There is often confusion defining between a seminar and a tutorial. In general, these terms refer to collaborative small group learning sessions designed to improve your critical thinking and communication skills, as well as testing your knowledge. For the purpose of this guide, we will refer to them as tutorials.
Tutorials often involve a smaller class size to a lecture and are usually around 15 students per group. These sessions are not recorded. If you cannot make a tutorial, contact your lecturer and ask if you can attend a different groups' tutorial.
Whilst a tutor is present, tutorials are usually student led and are an open forum for students to ask questions, share ideas, and develop their knowledge.
The form of tutorials is more flexible and subject specific than a lecture and varies based on the activity that you are doing. Here are some examples of what a tutorial could take the form of:
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being tasked with leading an in-depth study on a topic and presenting your findings to the class, such as delivering an oral presentation on a book, concept or researcher
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a tutor guiding you through a practical demonstration of key skills
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a tutor helping you answer a series of calculations or questions
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a tutor introducing a topic and some related questions before asking the class to discuss and answer them
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a collaborative group project.
When are they scheduled, where & how long do they last?
You can find how many tutorials you have and when they are scheduled in your module pages on Blackboard.
Tutorials are generally scheduled from week three onwards per semester as they will relate to the focus of your lectures.
Tutorials can take place:
- In smaller classrooms compared to lectures
- In laboratories, workshops or studios for more practical degrees
- Online via Microsoft Teams.
Don’t forget to check out our understanding room keys and campus map pages to help you locate your tutorials!
Do I need to prepare for tutorials?
Yes – you will need to prepare for your tutorials.
Tutorials are designed to be collaborative – that means we want everyone to take part. The aim is to provide a safe space through which you can share your ideas and learn from others.
You will be set work to help you prepare and contribute to the discussion. This will be outlined in your module pages on Blackboard, which will make clear how you will need to prepare and what will be expected of you.
For this reason, tutorials can initially seem daunting. However, the best advice for preparing is completing the work set in plenty of time, alongside arriving with a willingness to share and listen to ideas. It sounds simple but this really will help you get the most from them!
What if I haven’t prepared for a tutorial?
If you haven’t been able to prepare for a tutorial, try doing as much as you can in the time remaining as even 10-15 minutes of revision will help you feel more comfortable to participate. You could try:
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reading the abstract, introduction and conclusion to the core reading(s)
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asking if you could attend the session on a different date to allow you to prepare, particularly if you have been ill or have justifying circumstances as to why you weren’t able to prepare
You still need to attend your tutorials, even if you haven’t been able to prepare.
