Digital collegiality and learning with Kuppi
The project involves developing and pilot-testing a format for collegial learning, as well as support material specifically for the subject of digital synchronous meetings (e.g. seminars via Zoom) in this format, to strengthen KTH's ability to provide courses in blended learning environments.
Project context
At KTH today, many courses use mixed learning environments (blended learning), which is often described as a well thought-out combination of learning activities in a digital learning environment and on campus. The number of such courses has increased after the Covid-19 pandemic.
In both learning environments (physical and digital), there may be activities that take place:
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synchronously, i.e. something that happens here and now, such as a course meeting (can take place physically on campus or digitally, e.g. via Zoom),
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asynchronously, an activity that is less dependent on when students carry it out (e.g. reading course literature, studying a recorded lecture or answering a quiz).
There are some challenges in the digital teaching role, for example in digital synchronous course meetings on Zoom. During the pandemic, we learned that students experienced difficulties maintaining motivation, felt low commitment to participate, that they were only passive participants and felt alone. Teachers also experienced difficulty in getting feedback from students and that they talked to themselves. These challenges firstly need to be addressed.
Another change is the increasing costs of teaching facilities at KTH. Teachers and others who are responsible for teaching will need to review how they can reduce the costs of their courses without losing quality. Using blended learning environments in a smart and well-thought-out way that maintains quality can be a solution. Then, secondly, the development of the digital teaching role will be relevant for saving resources.
As support for the teaching staff within digital learning, there is currently a course, workshops, webinars, individual supervision and self-study courses on Canvas. However, there is a lack of support material for (specifically) the subject of digital synchronous course meetings, i.e. how teachers organise, plan and implement digital course meetings that strengthen student learning.
A training format for this subject with a larger collegial element could complement the support that is currently available. Such a format could also be used for other subjects.
Purpose (outcome)
The overall purpose of the project is to help the digital transformation move forward in a way that is scalable and provides lasting change, by:
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Developing a training format with a large collegial element that can be used for various subjects
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Pilot-testing the training format on the subject of digital synchronous course meetings (develop and implement support material within the format) to reduce the problems we know about today
Project results (output)
Implemented training format on a suitable technical platform (name and characteristics of the format are defined as part of the project) with support material specific to the subject of digital synchronous course meetings packaged in the format. Sub-results are:
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Pilot implemented, ready for use
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Pilot evaluated and the format has been adapted based on these experiences
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New pilot round with expanded/improved content, or a different subject within the same platform.
Time plan
Start date: 2024-08-01
End date: 2024-12-31
Project documentation
If you have a KTH ID, you can read the documents when logged in:
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Project initiation document: Projektdirektiv__FrU24_2424-ITM_KUPPI_240604.pdf (Swedish)