Contact: Maridith Geuder
For nearly 25 years, Keith Hopkins has taught university students in Australia's third largest city. This fall, he's teaching students at Mississippi's largest university.
Though the two schools are thousands of miles apart, Hopkins said he's found students at Mississippi State and Griffith University in Brisbane aren't that different. In two College of Education courses, he's challenging American students--like those he teaches in Australia--to take a new look at what it means to learn.
"One of the most novel things for students initially is the way I assign grades," he explained. Starting with the premise that everyone is working from a perfect "0," he recognizes students for grasping course material instead of marking off points for incorrect information.
His MSU courses include the social foundations of education and writing for thinking. He awards the highest grades to those who best demonstrate an understanding of concepts and ways they may be applied in the classroom.
"By definition, only a few students will be outstanding, but many have the ability to be very competent," he said.
American higher education is not a new experience for Hopkins, who earned a master's degree at the University of Florida. Also, he's visited Starkville twice before, teaching on one other occasion at Mississippi State.
From experience teaching both high school and university students, he's developed an interest in how students learn, with much of his research focusing on that area. He's also researched and taught development, implementation and evaluation of teacher education programs, among other topics.
Hopkins said Australian education systems give less attention to testing as a ranking. Instead, grades are used mostly as a diagnostic evaluation process for remediation or acceleration.
"Children in our school system would typically have three tests during their school years," he added.
A literacy test in the second grade helps identify Australian youngsters who have difficulty communicating correctly. Hopkins said the goal of this test is to help educators know what special educational resources, particularly human resources, will be needed in future years. Children in grade six have a similar diagnostic test.
In the 12th year, students take a core skills test to measure performance across 42 common curriculum elements such as interpreting, explaining and synthesizing. Students apply to universities based on their demonstrated achievements on this final test.
Another difference is that Australian schools place more emphasis on depth rather than breadth of learning, said Gloria Correro, associate dean of education at MSU.
"The Australian philosophy is 'do less better,'" she said. "Written projects, team activities and essay exams are used to evaluate students. The use of multiple choice and short answer tests are limited, because they are seen as promoting fragmented thinking and rote learning, which is less likely to promote understanding and application of the subject matter."
Having Hopkins as a visiting instructor is helping education majors in his classes gain a new perspective on their future profession, Correro said.
"The opportunity to study with Keith lets our students compare and contrast teaching approaches," she added. "It's given them new opportunities for exploring cultural diversity."
Hopkins, who has several close friends at the university, says he's found Starkville very friendly and comfortable.
"Professionally, my stay at Mississippi State has allowed me to get a more objective view of what I've done at home," he said. "I've enjoyed exchanging insights with students and colleagues."