Reading and writing skills in higher education

Reading and Writing Skills in Higher Education: lecturers’ opinions and perceptions

Ana Paula Cabral & José Tavares

Departamento de Ciências da Educação

Campus Universitário de Santiago - Universidade de Aveiro

3800 Aveiro Portugal

E mails: José Tavares ([e-mail]) Ana Paula Cabral ([e-mail])

Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Paper presented at the European Conference on Educational Research, University of Lisbon, 11-14 September 2002
Abstract
The purpose of this session is to discuss teachers' opinions and perceptions on Reading/Comprehension and Writing skills of their students and on their role towards these abilities

Based on a questionnaire directed to faculty members from four Portuguese state Universities*, we aim to examine the level of competence teachers consider their students have in these skills. to what extent these skills are taken into account in evaluation, the main difficulties of their students and if teachers develop any strategies to promote their students' proficiency In these fields

These data was also analyzed bearing in mind the results from a questionnaire directed to 1,000 students of these same faculty members on their specific levels of competence in these skills, the strategies they apply in their daily academic tasks and the role these skills play in the students academic performance and success.
*University of Aveiro, University of Algarve, University of Porto and University of Minho (about 25% of the science and engineering lecturers)