Chapter 14: Expectations and Difficulties in Biological Sciences BSc Studies: Faculty and Student Perspectives

This study compares the learning and teaching perspectives of undergraduate students in the biological sciences with the perspectives of their instructors. We explored undergraduate students’ expectations from and difficulties with their studies and compared these findings with faculty teaching goals and their own difficulties. Concerning students’ and instructors’ expectations, almost all the participants believed that knowledge should be strongly emphasized and implemented during BSc studies. While students emphasized the gain of pure knowledge as the most important expectation, the instructors referred to the delicate balance between providing knowledge and developing learning skills. Concerning the difficulties, the students’ main complaints were directed toward their instructors’ teaching styles and the sizeable workload, and the instructors’ major complaints involved the disparity of the students’ learning habits. We know the awareness of teachers’ and students’ perspectives and their interrelations will lead to better course planning and teaching strategies as well as improve students’ satisfaction with their studies.