Lecturers’ perceptions of students’ learning needs in geo-engineering in Spain

摘要

Results from a study on university lecturers’ approaches to teaching and lecturers’ perceptions ofrnstudents’ learning needs in Spain are presented in this paper. A total of 27 lecturers of geotechnical engineeringrnand engineering geologywere selected for the study. Participantswere asked to complete theTrigwell&Prosser’srnApproaches to Teaching Inventory and a second Inventory developed by the last author of this paper. The firstrninventory gave an indication of lecturers’approaches to teaching,whereas the second provided data on perceptionsrnof students’ learning needs. Results showed how a content-focused approach is favoured by 67% of participants.rnTime management, critical thinking, problem solving skills, ability to make sound judgments, and ability tornapply knowledge in practice, were all identified as key students’ learning needs; whereas ability to give oralrnpresentations and research skills came last in the list.Anumber of comments regarding education of geotechnicalrnengineers and engineering geologists in Spain are included in the paper.