what does seminar mean in a university course

by Dr. Reba Kuphal Jr. 8 min read

Seminars, according to Wikipedia, are courses that feature intense study of one topic. Sometimes they are listed under different terms, such as “tutorial groups.” They include discussions but may also involve term papers, exams, oral presentations and other assignments.

Seminars are often defined as small, discussion-based courses. Typically, students complete readings and assignments before the class and discuss major themes or topics during class.

Full Answer

What to expect at a seminar?

Definition of seminar. 1 : a group of advanced students studying under a professor with each doing original research and all exchanging results through reports and discussions. 2 a (1) : a course of study pursued by a seminar. (2) : an advanced or graduate course often featuring informality and discussion.

What is the best general topic for a seminar?

Seminar A seminar is, generally, a form of academic instruction, either at an academic institution or offered by a commercial or professional organization. It has the function of bringing together small groups for recurring meetings, focusing each time on some particular subject, in which everyone present is requested to actively participate.

How do you conduct a seminar?

Nov 13, 2021 · A seminar is a small group session where you get the chance to discuss the content you have been assigned to learn for the week. A lecture is a large group session where the teacher is the central discussant. What to Expect in Seminars: Small Classes; Discussion; Group Work; Self-Directed Learning; Discussion of your Readings; Pop Tests; Active Learning

What is the purpose and objective of seminar?

A seminar, on the other hand, is a more discussion oriented lesson. According to Dictionary.com, a seminar is “a small group of students, as in a university, engaged in advanced study and original research under a member of the faculty and meeting regularly to …

What is the difference between a class and a seminar?

As nouns the difference between class and seminar

is that class is (countable) a group, collection, category or set sharing characteristics or attributes while seminar is a class held for advanced studies in which students meet regularly to discuss original research, under the guidance of a professor.

What is a seminar class vs lecture?

Definitions: A seminar is a small group session where you get the chance to discuss the content you have been assigned to learn for the week. A lecture is a large group session where the teacher is the central discussant.

How does a seminar course work?

College seminar courses are typically small, and are generally led by a professor. They are often higher-level classes that focus on a specialized subject area in a given major or minor. Students are expected to participate regularly in college seminars, including giving presentations and participating in discussions.Jul 25, 2017

Is a seminar a lecture?

A lecture is a monologue that is delivered by a single person, usually a professor. In a seminar, it is the students who are the presenters and the professor has only a limited role. In a lecture, the professor dictates and the students take notes.

Are seminar classes easy?

Though some students view a seminar as an easier course than traditional college classes, these seminars still require a large amount of work. In a traditional seminar class, the professor will present students with a syllabus that tells them the materials and resources they need to read before the next class.

What is considered a seminar?

What's a seminar? The difference between a seminar and a workshop is that a seminar tends to be held within one institution or university, and will often a seminar will be a small group of people – say, between five and ten attendees – who come together to focus on a particular issue.Feb 28, 2019

What is seminar example?

The definition of a seminar is a class at a college or university, or is a formal meeting where discussion takes place. A writing class where you attend and get feedback on your work is an example of a seminar. A meeting for an exchange of ideas; a conference. The group of students in such a course.

What is the purpose of college seminar?

A seminar, by definition, is a small discussion-based course in which students and their instructors exchange ideas and information. While there are many variations among first-year seminars, they all aim to assist students in their academic and social development and in their transition to college.

How many people are in a university seminar?

1.1 School policy stipulates that undergraduate classes and graduate seminars will normally have a maximum limit of 15 students per group. 1.2 However, the School acknowledges that it might be appropriate to run larger classes/seminars when pedagogically appropriate to do so.

Are seminars longer than lectures?

Lectures are large - depending on subject can have 200+, with one person talking and students taking notes. Usually last between an hour and two hours. Seminars are much smaller (typically up to 20), involve students more (discussing papers, undertaking a task, group work etc).

Are lectures bigger than seminars?

Lectures are usually bigger in terms of number of students and are a great time to take notes and ask questions. During a lecture you'll probably learn the bulk of the information you need to know for that week.Feb 28, 2020

What is the difference between a presentation and a seminar?

As nouns the difference between seminar and presentation

is that seminar is a class held for advanced studies in which students meet regularly to discuss original research, under the guidance of a professor while presentation is the act of presenting, or something presented.

What is a seminar class?

Unlike lectures, seminar classes are designed to be interactive, with students participating in a dialogue rather than just listening to a professor and taking notes. Because of this, seminar classes are great for engaging with complex ideas, but less suitable for “how-to,” or hands-on lessons. One type of seminar is the Socratic seminar, in which ...

Do you have to do yourself for a seminar?

If your seminar is part of a conference or university program, then you may not have as much to do yourself, but it’s still important to coordinate with the event host and any co-facilitators. If you’re hosting a private seminar, then you’ll have to handle more of the logisitics yourself.

What is a Socratic seminar?

One type of seminar is the Socratic seminar, in which the students lead the discussion. While a professor may introduce the topic and facilitate the conversation, the goal is to allow participants to think for themselves. These types of seminars may include elements of debate, and the topic might take the form of an open-ended question, ...

Why do people sit around tables during a seminar?

Instead of sitting in rows, participants may sit around a table in order to facilitate discussion. While seminars are interactive, they aren’t usually hands-on; if an event includes a physical project, then it’s probably best described as a workshop.

What does the word "symposium" mean?

While the word seminar comes from Latin, the term symposium comes from Greek, and it means “to drink together. ”. It refers to “part of a banquet that took place after the meal, when drinking for pleasure was accompanied by music, dancing, recitals, or conversation.”.

What is a banquet after dinner?

It refers to “part of a banquet that took place after the meal, when drinking for pleasure was accompanied by music, dancing, recitals, or conversation.”. These events usually took place in a private home and were known for getting a little rowdy!

What is gathering under the roof of an inspiring host?

Wikipedia refers to it as a “gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine the taste and increase the knowledge of the participants through conversation.”.

What is a seminar course?

College seminar courses are typically small, and are generally led by a professor. They are often higher-level classes that focus on a specialized subject area in a given major or minor.

What is a college seminar?

College seminar courses are typically small, and are generally led by a professor. They are often higher-level classes that focus on a specialized subject area in a given major or minor. Students are expected to participate regularly in college seminars, including giving presentations and participating in discussions.

How can students succeed in college seminar?

There are many ways that students can succeed in a college seminar course, including emphasizing their participation, remaining distraction-free, and actively listening during class sessions.

What are professors looking for in a seminar?

In most cases, professors in seminars are looking less for “right” answers, and more for genuine engagement. Professors’ participation grades may be among the most highly weighted grades you’ll receive in a college seminar. So, focus on completing your assignments on time and being prepared for class so you can contribute to conversations in a meaningful way.

What is a conversation in college?

A conversation is all about give and take. This holds especially true in seminar courses, where you’ll be having lots of conversations with the people around you for the entire semester. It’s easy to talk a lot during a college seminar, and less easy to listen to others. Try to balance your speaking with listening.

What is a seminar?

1 : a group of advanced students studying under a professor with each doing original research and all exchanging results through reports and discussions. 2 a (1) : a course of study pursued by a seminar.

What is a seminar in English?

English Language Learners Definition of seminar. : a meeting in which you receive information on and training in a particular subject. : a class offered to a small group of students at a college or university. See the full definition for seminar in the English Language Learners Dictionary.

What is a seminar on career planning?

a seminar on career planning a seminar bringing together the world's leading epidemiologists. Recent Examples on the Web Activist and educator Raj Sethuraju attended the meeting and thought the seminar itself was racist.

What is an advanced student?

1 : a group of advanced students studying under a professor with each doing original research and all exchanging results through reports and discussions. 2 a (1) : a course of study pursued by a seminar. (2) : an advanced or graduate course often featuring informality and discussion.

What is a Seminar?

Seminars, according to Wikipedia, are courses that feature intense study of one topic. Sometimes they are listed under different terms, such as “tutorial groups.” They include discussions but may also involve term papers, exams, oral presentations and other assignments. Classes are usually small so that students and faculty can interact more.

What Purpose do they Serve?

If you have enrolled in a seminar, you may wonder why they are required. Seminars usually involve upperclassmen, but some schools require freshman seminars. The purpose of these undergraduate groups is generally to build relationships between peers and students and their instructors.

How do I Make the Best Use of my Seminars?

First, if you are facilitating the discussion, you will be given advance notice. According to Bright Knowledge.org, you should research the topic thoroughly and write detailed notes for your presentation. You should make eye contact with your instructor and your peers as you give the information.

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What is a seminar in a lecture?

A seminar is a small group session where you get the chance to discuss the content you have been assigned to learn for the week. They usually occur after lectures so you can brainstorm and reflect on the topic presented in the lecture. 2. Definition of a Lecture. Here’s two scholarly definitions of a lecture:

What is group work in seminar?

Group Work. Seminars involve a lot of group work. When the students are set a task, they’ll often work in groups. Sometimes this may be several small groups. The students will often be split into groups of 2 – 5 and asked to share their ideas on the topic of the day.

What is a lecture?

1) characterize a lecture as a speech “presented to hundreds of students in a lecture theatre” which is considered “the standard model of academic teaching.”.

What is the difference between a lecture and a lecture?

Whereas a lecture involves the teacher talking (droning) on and on, a lecture may have the teacher barely talk. Usually, the teacher gives an introduction and sets out the terms of the discussion. They may set a question or a task. Then, they let the students share their ideas together.

What is a seminar?

Seminars are a great place to test out some new ideas or theories that you've been thinking about but aren't 100% confident with yet. If you're working on a concept or an idea for an experiment but you want to hear some feedback on it before you develop it further, offer to present it at a seminar.

What is the difference between a seminar and a conference?

Moreover, the difference between a conference and a seminar may be that a conference has a more general theme with a focus on presentations and lectures, whereas a workshop is usually more specific and hands-on, so to speak . However, as we'll see there are grey areas between these types of events, and the line isn't always clear.

What are the different types of academic events?

There are lots of different types of academic event that you might want to attend, such as conferences, seminars, workshops and symposiums. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks, and generally they have a different slant. Size, for instance, is usually a big factor in whether something is regarded as a conference or a symposium.

What is the difference between a conference and a workshop?

The difference between a workshop and a conference is that workshops are generally smaller than conferences, and are usually only a day or two long and are dedicated to discussing a specific topic. Although these events are held as part of a department, you will often find outside visitors who attend them too.

Why are workshops important?

Workshops are a good opportunity to learn new skills and to familiarise yourself with a topic you don't know well . If this piece has inspired you to apply to a conference, workshop, symposium or seminar, read our piece on how to get accepted to an academic conference.

What is a symposium?

The definition of a symposium isn't completely clear – the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary describes it simply as 'a small conference'. However, similarly to a workshop, a symposium tends to focus on a particular issue rather than a more general theme.

Is a symposium smaller than a conference?

Finally, symposiums will generally be smaller than a conference. Saying all this, it's likely you'll visit a symposium that seems more like conference and a workshop that could easily be called a seminar. The difference isn't always clear, and there's usually some grey area.

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