Some thoughts from a food science and technology educator

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

F. Xavier Malcata (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Food Science Education

Vol. 14 No. 1

Pages: 5-6

ISSN: 1541-4329

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge

ISI Web of Science

Scopus

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

Other information

DOI: 10.1111/1541-4329.12052

Abstract (EN): If asked for practical advice to gain students’ attention and en-thusiasm, I would refer to basically 5 keywords (ROSIS, for short): (i) Reality—let classes develop as rationalizations of students’ own past experiences, thus enhancing applicability; (ii) Originality— go one step beyond published texts, and incorporate unique examples that make a difference; (iii) Suspense—build lectures as detective plots that gradually attract interest, until the climax of conclusions is attained; (iv) Integration—tie scattered ideas from disparate fields of knowledge through fundamental concepts, side by side with a synthesis methodology; and (v) Simplicity—avoid the temptation of hiding behind complex representations—outline instead what really matters. As part of systematic implementation of an ever-improving teaching philosophy, I have, over the years, tried to: (i) prepare classes carefully and rationally; (ii) incorporate students’ opinions and suggestions into my own performance, through a coordinated and iterative feedback process; (iii) make lectures and discussion classes as simple and intelligible as possible; (iv) highlight main points in the classroom; (v) provide individual homework problems to stress details; (vi) emphasize relationships of the subject to other fields of practical interest; (vii) be available for individual students or small groups for clarification of important or difficult-to-understand points; (viii) foster critical thinking skills, so students learn to develop reasoning methods rather than problem-solving routines; and last (but certainly not least), (ix) be fair in the evaluation, by providing comprehensive exams with a balance of conceptual and analytical questions.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 2