Student-centred learning (SCL) and quality education: The implementation of student-centred learning in quality assurance procedures

Transcription

1 The European Students Union REPRESENTING STUDENTS SINCE 1982 Student-centred learning (SCL) and quality education: The implementation of student-centred learning in quality assurance procedures European Quality Assurance Forum November 2014 Barcelona, Spain Elisabeth Gehrke, Chairperson Blazhe Todorovski, Executive Committee

2 Who are we? The European Students' Union (ESU) is an umbrella organisation of 47 National Unions of Students from 39 different countries. Through its members, ESU represents over 15 million students in Europe. The aim of ESU is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at the European level towards all relevant bodies.

3 Nowadays

4 Outline 1. What is SCL? 2. Policy history of SCL 3. ESU s work with SCL 4. SCL and quality = true? 5. Quality assurance and SCL 6. Final recommendations

5 What is Studentcentred learning?

6 SCL: an umbrella concept Mindset and approach not a specific methodology! Many methods and theories can be considered student centred: inclusive pedagogy, constructive alignment, critical pedagogy, project-based learning, large lectures etc Partnership between teachers, staff and students at every level ie students and staff in governance and curriculum design

7 Some key aspects Active learning vs. passive learning Deep approaches and understanding vs. surface approaches Autonomy, responsibility and accountability on the part of the learner Mutual respect and inter-dependence between the teacher and learner; part of the community of scholars or a co-producer of knowledge Reflexive approaches to the teaching and learning processes

8 Principles of SCL No «one size fits all» approach to SCL Creating an inclusive learning environment Students have different learning styles Students have different needs and interests Students have different experiences and backgrounds Choice central to effective learning Learning is a collaborative effort between staff and students

9 «Student-Centred Learning represents both a mindset and a culture within a given higher education institution and is a learning approach[ ]characterised by innovative methods of teaching which aim to promote learning in communication with teachers and other learners and which take students seriously as active participants in their own learning, fostering transferable skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking and reflective thinking.» Time for Student-Centred Learning (T4SCL) Toolkit, 2011

10 European policy history of SCL

11 SCL in the Leuven Communiqué (2009) We reassert the importance of the teaching mission of higher education institutions and the necessity for ongoing curricular reform geared toward the development of learning outcomes. Student-centred learning requires empowering individual learners, new approaches to teaching and learning, effective support and guidance structures and a curriculum focused more clearly on the learner in all three cycles. Curricular reform will thus be an ongoing process leading to high quality, flexible and more individually tailored education paths. Academics, in close cooperation with student and employer representatives, will continue to develop learning outcomes and international reference points for a growing number of subject areas. We ask the higher education institutions to pay particular attention to improving the teaching quality of their study programmes at all levels. This should be a priority in the further implementation of the European Standards and Guidelines for quality assurance.

12 SCL in the Bucharest Communiqué (2012) Commit to establish conditions that foster student-centred learning, innovative teaching methods and a supportive and inspiring working and learning environment, while continuing to involve students and staff in governance structures at all levels. Higher education should be an open process in which students develop intellectual independence and personal selfassuredness alongside disciplinary knowledge and skills. Through the pursuit of academic learning and research, students should acquire the ability confidently to assess situations and ground their actions in critical thought.

13 SCL & the European Commission (2013) Recommendations: Authorities should provide adequate funding and design SCL strategies Curriculum development in partnership with stakeholders Mandatory certified teacher training for professors all teaching staff to be certified by 2020 Integration of assessment of teaching competence alongside other factors for hiring, progression and promotion Continuous teacher training and development

14 New ESGs; SCL standard Under; Standards and guidelines for Internal evaluation Standard; 1.3: Student centred learning, teaching and assessment Institutions should ensure that the programmes are delivered in a way that encourages students to take an active role in creating the learning process, and that the assessment of students reflects this approach

15 ESU s work with SCL

16 Time for Student-Centred Learning (T4SCL)

17 National barriers for change (T4SCL, 2010)

18 Toolkit for SCL

19 The necessary conditions for SCL Organisational development and power to change Continuous professional development for academic staff at both the disciplinary and institutional level Inclusive, representative governance on all levels Role of ICT, libraries and information systems Support through quality assurance mechanisms Flexible rules and paths for a diverse student population Adequate resource allocation!

20 Peer Assessment of Student-Centred Learning (PASCL), PASCL aims to assist in implementing sound studentcentred learning (SCL) strategies and approaches at institutional level and to foster a culture of SCL in higher education institutions across Europe. How? Framework for assessment of SCL Evaluating HEIs performance in implementing SCL Facilitating peer learning Rewarding excellent examples of implementation

21 SCL + Quality = true?

22 SCL Time (components for from Student-Centred previous (Components from Quest Learning for scientific research) (T4SCL) Use of learning outcomes Quality Education Quality Education (QUEST), ESU ) Adequate curricula (organized in learning outcomes) SCL (components identified in T4SCL) Students have the freedom to choose components within their own curricula Innovative teaching System of transfer and accumulation of credits/ flexible curricula and learning paths The learning and teaching process (student-centred learning) Learning environment (responding to students needs) Resources and facilities (including student support services) Activity-based learning/ Student participation in the development of teaching methods Use of small groups (e.g. self-directed learning, tutorials, small seminars etc.)/ Small number of students per teaching member of academic staff Available study counselling Possibility of part-time studies/ects In-service training in teaching for academic staff/ Initial training in teaching by academic staff Assessment of students based on learning outcomes/ Student evaluation of teaching methods

23 Reworking QA to include SCL

24 QA an incentive for reform European level Despite reference to teaching in current ESGs, QA reviews often too procedural focusing on mechanisms, regulations and overall institutional management Ensure student involvement in designing and approving study programmes Inclusion of SCL as a separate standard in the revised ESGs National level Rewarding the best practices Design mechanisms to evaluate and reward excellence in teaching Paying more attention at programme level Higher education institutional level Design strategies for implementation and evaluation of SCL Include assessment of teaching competence in criteria for hiring and promotion Teaching awards for individual achievements

25 Final remarks and recommendations

26 What have we learned? Quality is student-centred learning The interaction between teachers, students and the learning environment Recommendations Giving ownership to learning means involving students as full partners in governance on all levels, from programme review panels and course design to the boards of national quality assurance agencies Focus on the carrot, rather than the stick = provide support and guidance for teachers and reward positive developments especially at the initial stages of SCL implementation

27 Cont. Recognise and emphasise the role that student selfgoverned bodies can play in providing feedback and development of SCL Monitor and encourage consistent strategies for implementation on both national and institutional level Encourage peer-learning for SCL on both a regional, national and international level Remember that there is not one size fits all approach; you will be looking for a general approach not specific methods

28 The European Students Union REPRESENTING STUDENTS SINCE 1982 Thank you!

29 @ESUtwt European Students Union The European Students Union Rue de la Sablonnière Brussels, Belgium Tel: Fax: