Professional Development
The Centre for Learning and Teaching provides both in-depth professional development workshops designed for university instructors at the Faculty for Science and Engineering, and lower threshold educational seminars on a monthly basis during lunch, called PIE for Lunch. Below you will find an overview of both the workshops and the seminars.
To jump quickly:
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Educational Lunch Seminars (PIE for Lunch)
If you want the Educational Lunch Seminars straight into your calendar:
Professional Development Calendar 2024-25
The workshops address a range of goals and needs, following input from programme boards and lecturers.
The workshops will benefit all lecturers especially professors with an education focus.
Upcoming sessions:
The sessions for academic year 24_25 have finished.
Previous sessions:
STEM Education Research: What is it & why should you care?
When: | Th 05-09-2024 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5616.0136 Feringa Building |
In this workshop, you will develop an understanding of what constitutes STEM education research and the various methodologies typically utilised in STEM education research, identify ‘selling’ research ideas, and potential funding opportunities.
Group work, how to develop student collaboration skills
When: | Th 03-10-2024 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5161.0165 Bernoulliborg (ALC) |
In this workshop, you will evaluate and reflect on current designs for group work. Based on clear criteria, we will discuss specific improvements to increase the effectiveness of group work with a focus on collaborative skills.
Workshop: Deciding on AI technologies as STEM university instructors
When: | We 13-11-2024 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5161.0222 Bernoulliborg (ALC) |
In this workshop, you will explore if available AI technologies are adding value to your courses and make sense of how to work from current guidelines on the use of AI to preserve fairness, accountability, transparency, and ethical aspects.
Workshop: Empathy before education…
When: | Tu 03-12-2024 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | TBA |
In this workshop, we will explore the potential of empathy in fostering learning and promoting inclusion. We will also highlight the necessity of teaching and practising this life skill in higher education. Delving into non-violent communication, we will introduce participants to practical tools for empathetic connection- both in everyday interactions and educational settings.
Workshop: Designing for effective feedback
When: | Tu 21-01-2025 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5161.0134 Bernouilliborg (ALC) |
For formative assessment to be effective in promoting student learning, good feedback practices are essential. This workshop introduces lecturers to seven principles of good feedback practices. Participants will apply these principles to the analysis of teaching approaches and reflect on the effectiveness of their own feedback practices.
Cultural diversity & STEM? But, science is universal!
When: | Th 06-03-2025 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5616.0128, Feringa Building |
This workshop will focus on cultural diversity in the context of STEM education. It will explore how students’ diverse backgrounds influence their expectations and learning approaches and how teachers need to recognise and accommodate these differences to develop and adjust effective teaching strategies. Ultimately, this process will foster the development of teachers’ own intercultural competences.
*registration is necessary
Escape Games in STEM education - Opportunities and Challenges
When: | Th 03-04-2025 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5161.0222 (Bernouilliborg) |
In this workshop, we will explore the use of escape games for students to deepen their understanding in STEM courses, as part of a current Comenius project. We will discuss the role of game mechanics, how to align learning objectives and game content, and how escape games offer exciting opportunities for opening discussions on diversity and inclusion. To make it practical, participants will have the opportunity to test some of the games and even visit the pop-up escape room that is created as part of this Comenius project.
Making Blended Learning work: optimising your course for real impact
When: | Tu 03-06-2025 15:30 - 17:00 |
Where: | 5161.0222 Bernoulliborg |
Provided by dr. Sofie van den Eynde
Want to boost student engagement and make your course design more intentional? In this interactive workshop, you’ll explore the principles of activity-based and blended learning to assess and improve your current course setup. Together, we’ll examine the role of different activities in the learning process, identify signs of overload, and explore how the course flow can be streamlined. You’ll also discover how varied interactions—with content, peers, and you as the instructor—can enhance learning, and how online tools can support your goals. Walk away with concrete ideas and a clear starting point for redesigning your course for greater impact.
PIE for Lunch
PIE for lunch is a monthly one hour educational seminar over lunchtime (12-13h, online or hybrid). We invite teachers from our Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) to share tools and strategies that they have implemented in their teaching in order to inspire you to implement them in your own practice. We cover the most relevant and current topics in education, e.g. formative assessment, active learning and support for TAs. Do you have suggestions for a topic? Do not hesitate to let us know via CLT rug.nl
Next session:
Play to Learn: Integrating Gamification into Education
When: | Th 20-03-2025 12:00 - 13:00 |
Where: | Linnaeusborg, 5173.0149 |
How can game-based learning enhance student engagement and deepen understanding? This seminar explores the power of gamification in education and features an inspiring Best Practice Award 2025 (BPA) nominee from FSE.
Dr. Edith Koh from the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) at FSE will provide insights into the educational theories that support gamification.
Prof. Ranjita Bose from BSc Chemical Engineering will present a successful implementation of game-based learning in her course. By incorporating game-based challenges, this approach transforms the theoretical nature of polymer chemistry into an interactive and engaging learning experience. Students are encouraged to think critically, make decisions, and connect complex concepts to real-world applications.
The session will conclude with an open discussion, during which participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and explore how game-based learning can enhance their own courses.
Future session:
Tuesday April 15 2025, 12:00-13:00
Thursday May 22 2025, 12:00-13:00
Tuesday June 24 2025, 12:00-13:00