Collegial Teaching and Learning in STEM Education
Postgraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Teaching semesters
- Autumn, Spring
- Course code
- MNPED660
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English/Norwegian
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
The objective of this course is to give a group of teachers/staff that share a social community (course, department, program etc) the opportunity to work on pedagogical issues that are relevant for their teaching and learning practice or work with education, learning and teaching.
The course introduces you to core concepts of teaching and learning in higher education to develop your ability to improve student learning. The course is focused on reading, discussing, documenting, and reflecting on pedagogical topics specifically related to teaching and learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) within the participants practices. Activities in the course shall provide participants with a common educational language, support collegial reflections and a scholarly approach to teaching and learning.
The main component of the course is a group SoTL* project, addressing a teaching and learning issue of relevance to the participants own practice. Examples of a final artefact are a project report, a paper intended for publication in a teaching and learning journal, a teaching resource, or a submission to a teaching and learning conference - followed by a public presentation at a seminar, conference, or relevant meeting.
The course requires no previous pedagogical training and welcomes both experienced and more novice teachers and staff working with education, teaching and learning.
* SoTL = Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. A collegial and research-based approach to teaching and learning.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, participants will have acquired:
Knowledge
- Be able to analyse teaching issues with reference to their own professional practice and knowledge of student learning
Skills
- Be able to participate in a collegial discussion on teaching and learning with colleagues (critical friends), based on relevant literature and documentation
- Be able to report the findings of a SoTL project on teaching and learning, with university colleagues as a target group
- Be able to develop pedagogical alternatives to use in their own practice, and to justify their benefits to student learning
General competence
- Demonstrate a scholarly approach to their own teaching practice/pedagogical practice
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Irregular. Next time autumn 2024-spring 2025.
The course runs over two semesters, starting in the autumn. Announcement of the course, and registration deadline, will be made to the well in advance of the course start. It is mandatory to attend the first session.
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
The main component of the course is a SoTL project, carried out by a group and addressing a teaching issue of relevance to the participants. In addition to the project, the course consists of scheduled sessions intended to support the work on the project. The course has 5 (3 in autumn and 2 in spring) teaching sessions that are mandatory. In addition literature studies of relevance, including written assignments, and writing and peer-feedback on a teaching portfolio are also included.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
- Participation in course activities (seminars). At least 75% attendance.
- Literature studies (reading and writing assignments).
- SoTL project in groups.
- Writing a teaching portfolio and give feedback on a teaching portfolio.
Forms of Assessment
For a pass on the course participants must have:
- attended at least 75% of the scheduled activities (session 1-5)
- submitted and passed the individual course assignments (individual reading, individual portfolio writing and peer-review)
- completed the group project (final project product and peer-feedback)
- presented their work publicly to a relevant audience of peers (this can be local, regional, or international)
Grading Scale
Reading List
- Biggs, J. & Tang, C. (2011), Teaching for Quality Learning at University, 4th ed, The Society for Research into Higher Education.
- Handal, G. (1999), Consultation Using Critical Friends, New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 76, pp 59-70.
- And other relevant literature to complete the course project.