Academic Styles
Southern Utah University
History of educational styles
Eastern (i.e. Korea)
Heavily influenced by the teachings of
Confucius
Western (i.e. United States)
Heavily influenced by the teachings of
Socrates
Eastern (i.e. Korea)
Show respect for your elders, and learn from their wisdom
Never question your teachers, absorb their wisdom
Western (i.e. U.S.)
Do not just accept the established way, question everything
In class and out, ask why, how, and when. Find ways to do things
better
Shown as
Shown as
Eastern (i.e. Korea)
A person can elevate their self
through intense, competitive study
Work hard to learn the correct answers for tests
Western (i.e. U.S.)
Learning should happen for self- empowerment – give students questions, not answers
Research, discuss, and create to find your own answers
Shown as
Shown as
Eastern (i.e. Korea)
“Becoming” culture – create relationships and support your group
Combine class work and social life.
Follow the group to preserve harmony
Western (i.e. U.S.)
“Doing” culture – obtain a result or product from your efforts
Work for your personal benefit.
Don’t let friends distract you from your goals
Shown as
Shown as
The benefits of each style
Eastern Western
• Learn standardized materials consistently
• Very disciplined study – can bring fast absorption of material
• An effective preparation for specific job types
• A strong tool for structured disciplines like mathematics
• Learn to search for new answers and adapt to unfamiliar situations
• Puts you in charge of your own goals and education
• Liberal Arts education teaches generally useful skills
• Critical thinking teaches you to understand yourself, others, and the world better.
In a U.S. school
▪ Students may interrupt a lecture to ask questions
▪ A large part of the grade may come from participation
▪ Extracurricular involvement (clubs, sports, student government, personal projects) are an important part of a balanced education
▪ Professors are available to meet with outside of class
▪ Experiential learning (learning by doing and innovating, and sometimes failing) is encouraged and often required
▪ It is more important to understand the concept than the exact test answers.
Experiential education examples
Zoe’ example
http://zoedianechadwic k.wixsite.com/korea
The benefits of having multiple
perspectives
Adopting a new learning style
Travel!
Exposure to new ideas and ways of thinking
Adopting a new learning style
If you can’t travel, get to know other cultures near you
Approach new people - In school
- At cultural events - In the grocery store - On the train
- Everywhere
Adopting a new learning style
Use the Socratic method (asking questions to find the real cause)
Why are you frustrated at your class?
The material is difficult What makes it so difficult?
I have never heard of some of the topics before
Do you struggle to learn new things?
Not usually, but the way this material is organized makes it hard How could you reorganize it to help it make more sense to you?
Adopting a new learning style
Take charge of your education Ask questions
- when you don’t understand
- when you would like to know more Stop studying for grades, study to learn Create clear goals that are your own, and base your academic and study decisions on them
Take a variety of different classes for experience
Be open to new ways of doing things
▪ Try an idea before you dismiss it
▪ Learn from all types of people
▪ Don’t just take their word for it, do our own research
▪ Always be asking what you can improve
Adopting a new learning style
Create a vision board for guidance:
A visual and emotional representation of your perfect future
To inspire, motivate, and direct you
