InnovaEDU network conducted virtual seminar on student-centered learning

The InnovaEDU network led by the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies and which consists of five Nordic-Baltic partner universities has conducted its final training for teaching and support staff, focusing on student-centered learning (SCL).

The InnovaEDU network has been created within the framework of Nordplus Development Project “Learn to Te(a)ch series” and comprises partners from Tartu, Uppsala, Aarhus, Riga and Trondheim. Over the last year and a half, the network was focusing on sharing good teaching practices related to blended and online learning; new learning spaces and other innovative teaching practices.

The last seminar, originally planned in Aarhus, was dedicated specifically to the issue of student-centered learning. The seminar was moderated and led by partners from Aarhus University – Prof. Jens Bennedsen – and supported by other partners of the network. According to Anna Beitane, the main coordinator of the project, “student-centered learning has been at the center of debates for many years. For example, in 2010, the European Students’ Union together with Education International outlined 9-guidining principles of student-centered learning. However, up until this day – there are ongoing debates on the ways to conceptualize this teaching approach and the effective possibilities of implementing it.”

Prior to the seminar, all participants were required to submit written and video clip pre-tasks, highlighting various perspectives on student-centered learning from the side of students, administrative and teaching staff. On the basis of these submissions, the program of the seminar was drafted, which focused on several overarching aspects: SCL and different teaching methods, facilities and learning spaces for SCL, SCL in hybrid and online environment, as well as SCL and assessment. At the end of the seminar, participants engaged in a mock trial, where the teams of prosecutors and defense tried the possibilities and limitations of SCL in front of virtual jury and judges.

In the words of Maili Vilson, one of the participants of the seminar, “the most important and valuable part of the event was definitely the possibility to discuss and learn from each other. The seminar also gave the opportunity to collaborate online with other colleagues in the network and test new tools, which could be applied later on in class.”

Upon conclusion of the project, the network is also planning to release the final report and summaries of good teaching practices, stemming from the trainings, for a wider academic community and public. Preliminary findings and information about the seminar series could be found on the InnovaEDU website.

Additional information:
Anna Beitane
Manager of Online Learning Projects
Anna.beitane@ut.ee