This morning, the report on student centred approaches in higher education was launched at a breakfast seminar. Monika Nerland (IPED/UiO) and Tine Prøitz (NIFU) presented the key results in the report. This was followed by a panel discussion with Oddrun Samdal (UiB), Ida Austgulen (NSO), Stein Erik Lid (NOKUT) og Gunn Engelsrud (NIH).

The report presents results from 8 course level case studies that employ various student centered approaches. All of the chapters present specific lessons learned, and the final chapter concludes with a number of dilemmas for using student-centered approaches.

The report includes chapters on: 

• Introduction by Monika Nerland and Tine S. Prøitz
• Project-based learning in Computer Engineering Education by Crina Damşa
• Portfolio assessment in an undergraduate course in ecology by Rachelle Esterhazy
• Group assignments and roleplay in Organisation and Management by Line Wittek & Monika Nerland
• Simulation in a practicum course in nursing by Yngve Nordkvelle & Odd Rune Stalheim
• Bringing work-related elements into teaching and learning of legal education by Trine Fossland & Thomas de Lange
• Online teaching and learning in an experience-based MBA programme by Trine Fossland & Cathrine Tømte 
• Problem-based learning in a field course in ecology research by Heidi Hyytinen
• Large class lectures and essay writing in legal education by Heidi Hyytinen & Anne Haarala-Muhonen
• Quality of educational practices: Lessons learned and recommendations for the future by Monika Nerland, Tine S. Prøitz, Crina Damsa, Thomas de Lange, Rachelle Esterhazy, Trine
  Fossland, Heidi Hyytinen, Yngve Nordkvelle, Odd Rune Stalheim, Cathrine Tømte, Line Wittek

Download the report here.

As a part of the project, researchers from sub-project C have been working on case studies of educational practices at the course level.

The report with key findings will be launched with a breakfast seminar at NIFU on 23rd of January, 2018, at 0830-1000. Tine Prøitz and Monika Nerland present the key results from the report.

Read more about the event here.

The case studies examine aspects that matter for the quality of educational practices in course designs that employ student-centered approaches. Whilst ways of engaging students more actively in their learning processes are high on the political agenda and a variety of pedagogical approaches are developed for these purposes, less is known about how such approaches are
enacted in practice and the challenges teachers and students face in this regard. The cases presented here illustrate different pedagogical designs and approaches and how they play out in different domains and program contexts. Each case study addresses three research questions:

• What characterizes the teaching approaches and ways of engaging students in the course?
• What challenges do students and teachers face with the given pedagogical approaches and learning activities?
• What can we learn from this case about issues that matter for quality of educational practices?

The case studies used a common methodological approach combining participant observation, interviews with teachers and students, document analysis of course documents, and a questionnaire to the students targeting their course participation and experiences.