EMN U1 – The University of Oxford

The University of Oxford

(& Higher Education)

 

Reading list:

  • Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited.
  • Andrew Delbanco, College. What it was, is, and should be.

 

Session 1 (Sept. 18th)

Assignment group A:

  • Read Falconer Madan, Oxford outside the guide books, Chapter III, « Medieval Education in Oxford », pp. 34-40.  (PDF)
  • Read Andrew Smith’s chapter in The Oxford Tutorial ‘Thanks, you taught me how to think’, Chapter 13, « Been there; Got the T-shirt: The perspective of a recent survivor of the tutorial system » (PDF).
  • Watch the presentation of the tutorial system by St Hildas’ College:

Question: Is teaching and learning in Oxford different from other institutions? How so?

  • Divide the work individually and then discuss together
  • During the tutorial, split in different sides

Assignment group B:

  • Read and watch the assignments of group A, plus:
  • Read James Clark’s chapter in The Oxford Tutorial ‘Thanks, you taught me how to think’, Chapter 14, « The Oxford Tutorial from the Students’ Perspective » ()PDF).
  • Watch the two following videos about the Oxford tutorials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoXxFJiV94w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Th4WtKpDY

Question: What is so special about the Oxford tutorial system? What are its advantages and downsides?

  • Divide the work individually and then discuss together
  • During the tutorial, split in several sides

Assignment groups C & D:

  • Read and watch the assignments of groups A & B, plus:
  • Read Falconer Madan, Oxford outside the guide books, Chapter IV, « A Medieval Student’s Life », pp. 50-60 (PDF).
  • Read Donna Tartt, The Secret History, Chapter 1, pp. 38-45 (PDF).

Question: What is the pedagogical philosophy of the University of Oxford? Compare and contrast with the French system.

  • Divide the work individually and then discuss together
  • During the tutorial, split in several sides

 

Session 2 (Nov. 7th)

Assignment:

  • Read  (the entire novel)
  • Read Chapter 1 of Andrew Delbanco (“What is college for?”)

 

Session 3 (Nov. 21st)

Assignment:

  • Read Chapter 2 of Andrew Delbanco (“Origins”)

Presentation:

  • G. R. Evans, The University of Oxford, Chapter 2, “Oxford’s Middle Ages ».

 

Session 4 (Dec. 5th)

Assignment:

  • Watch the documentary Ivory Tower
  • Read Chapter 3 of Delbanco (“From College to University”) or
  • Read Chapter 4 of Delbanco (“Who Went? Who Goes? Who Pays?”)

Presentation:

  • Martha Nussbaum, Not for Profit, Chapters 2 (“Education for Profit, Education for Democracy”) and 3 (“Educating Citizens”).

 

Session 5 (Dec. 12th)

Assignment:

  • Read Chapter 4 of Delbanco (“Who Went? Who Goes? Who Pays?”)

Presentation:

  • David Palfreyman, The Oxford Tutorial, Chapter 1, « Hight Education, Liberal Education, Critical-thinking, Academic Discourse, and the Oxford Tutorial as Sacred Cow or Pedagogical Gem »