Blended learning

In Challenge-Based Learning, interdisciplinary teams of students work on real social challenges. The students collaborate with teachers, external stakeholders and social partners to identify major, urgent issues and their related challenges. They then work to find shared solutions to the challenges. In the process, they gain deep knowledge of the subject, learn how to ask critical questions, acquire 21st-century skills and learn how to share their thoughts and ideas with the world in a clear and effective manner.

Challenge-Based Learning at Utrecht University
Challenge-Based Learning has already been used successfully in several courses at Utrecht University. Several national and international alliances in which Utrecht University participates also use Challenge-Based Learning in their educational programmes, including CHARM-EU and EWUU. We’ve noticed growing numbers of teachers expressing interest in the teaching format and how they can apply it to their own education. Educate-it supports teachers with Challenge-Based Learning by providing didactic advice and guidance. 

Hybrid learning is a teaching format where some students participate on campus, while others join in remotely online. It is vital that the students on location, those participating remotely and the teacher are all able to interact in real-time. They must be able to see and hear each other clearly. This contributes to community building in education. It is also important that the teacher involve both groups equally in the course, so that the remote group does not feel isolated.

Hybrid learning plays an important role in national and international partnerships with other universities, such as CHARM-EU, where students from (foreign) partner universities attend classes remotely. Hybrid learning can also offer students more flexibility and freedom of choice. It gives students who are ill, living abroad or otherwise unable to come to campus in person the opportunity to participate in the course online.  

Educate-it is involved in the furnishing of seminar rooms with hybrid facilities, where teachers can offer hybrid learning to groups of students in an accessible manner.

Utrecht University offers a variety of courses online, including Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs): online courses open to enrolment for ‘learners’ around the world. Thousands of participants can join the courses at the same time. Educate-it supports and guides teachers in the development of MOOCs. 

Teachers can also develop smaller-scale online courses, and Educate-it is eager to help.

Online education offers students the opportunity to study when and where it is most convenient to them, without regard for time or place. Online education can also be used at the student’s own pace. Fully online courses are ideal for remedial studies or teaching basic academic skills.