Professional Skills - Educational Skills

3 EC

Semester 1 & 2, period 2, 4

5224PSES3Y

Owner Master Biological Sciences
Coordinator C.M. Nijnens MSc
Part of Master Earth Sciences, Master Biological Sciences, track Ecology and Evolution, Master Biological Sciences, track General Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Oncology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Infection and Immunity, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Experimental Internal Medicine, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Molecular Neurosciences, Master Physics and Astronomy, Master Chemistry (joint degree), Master Biological Sciences, track Freshwater and Marine Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Physiology of Synapses and Networks, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Developmental and Therapeutic Biology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Master Biomedical Sciences, track Cardiovascular Sciences, year 1Master Biological Sciences, track Evolution of Behaviour and Mind, Master Quantum Computer Science, Master Biological Sciences, track Green Life Sciences, Master Computational Science (Joint Degree),
Links Visible Learning Trajectories

Course manual 2025/2026

Course content

In this course, we will discuss the science of learning, how learners engage with new material, how new material is retained, retrieved and applied. We will provide you with tools that will help you reach your audience faster and more effectively. Formulated in teaching language: you will need to activate your audience in order to have them participate in your lecture, lesson or any other kind of activity. Getting experience with these educational techniques will be an important part of our course. After learning about effective teaching methods, you will work on designing your own lesson unit and lesson plan. In addition, you will have the opportunity to practice your teaching skills within the safe setting of our workgroups.

Objectives

  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the fundamentals of learning and teaching.
  • Develop a lesson series plan that complies to the principles of constructive alignment.
  • Create a detailed lesson plan in which the tools and knowledge from the theory are applied.
  • Reflect on own educational skills and learning process.

Teaching methods

  • Self-study
  • Lecture
  • Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

Werkcollege

32

Self study

52

Total

84

(3 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

  • Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.

    • Additional requirements for this course:

    By being present and actively participating in group discussions and class assignments you are contributing to the learning environment as well as the learning process of yourself and others. The in-class assignments and discussions enable and promote the achievement of the course learning objectives. 

    If you are unable to attend a session, contact the course coordinator prior to that session to discuss your options for passing the course. Missing more than 25% will automatically result in a negative assessment (fail; “NAV”) of the course. 

    Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    Fraud and plagiarism

    The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • C.M. Nijnens MSc