Adoption of a new project-based learning curriculum in information technologyVesikivi P, Hjort P, Lakkala M, Holvikivi J & Lukkarinen S

43rd Annual SEFI ConferenceJune 29 – July 2, 2015Orléans, France

51 % drop off

Retention rate in 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

engineering education 42% 40% 43% 45% 49%

Photo: John Springer Collection/CORBIS

Information technology —The first year curriculum 2013-> 2014

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Course ECTS

Basic Engineering Mathematics 6

Introduction to Calculus 6

Finnish for Foreigners 1 3

Finnish for Foreigners 2 3

Technical Writing and Presentation Skills 3

English Reporting Skills for ICT Projects 3

Introduction to Computing 3

Introduction to Studies 6

Orientation Project 6

Communication Networks 5

Digital Circuits 6

Programming 5

Circuits and Signals 5

Course ECTS

Orientation* 15

Games 15

Robots 15

Networks 15

Contents %

Project and team work

50 %

Mathematics & Physics

20-30 %

Languages & Communication

20-30 %

* Objects for Finnish students

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

9—12 Math Comm Project Lang Project

12—13 Lunch

13—16 Lang Project Project Math Project

Weekly schedule

Mathematics & Physics

Languages & communicati

on

Team work &Project

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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What is the impact of integrated model on the student course completion rate?

How do the students and teachers evaluate the benefits and challenges of the course practices?

Participants, Settings, and Data collection

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Natives (Finns)

Internationals

Cumulative credits & Feedback

85 % of active students completed the targeted 30 ECTS.

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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85 %

15 %

38 %

50 %12 %

Student evaluation – Positive feedback

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Working methods (61)Practical tasks (17)Group work (19)

Learning community and atmosphere (14)

Working methods in general (7)

Teaching and guidance (35)Good teachers and teaching (22)Teacher’s positive attitude (5)

Guidance and feedback from teachers (8)

Outcomes (19)Learnt new things (14)

High quality products (5)

Content (18)

Interesting and useful content (18)

Organisation (12)Good entity (7)Appropriate phase of work (3)

Good integration of subjects (2)

Facilities (4)

Project work (2)

Freedom of choice (2)

Student evaluation – Negative feedback

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Working methods (40)Too little teaching of theory (8)

Problems in group work (13)Compulsory attendance (2)

Challenging working methods (6)

Teaching and guidance (19)Poor teachers and teaching (7)

Unclear goals and evaluation criteria (6)Too little guidance and feedback (6)

Content (27)Difficult content (18)

Organisation (43)Uneven workload (9)

Confusing and incomplete arrangements (12)

Poor integration of subjects (8)

Facilities (7)

Restless classroom (4)

Too much teaching of theory (3)

Tight timetable and heavy workload (7)Poor communication practices (7)

Not interesting or useful content (9)

Too much group work (4)

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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Summary Outcome

Retention rate

Number of students completed their courses as planned

Working methods

Teaching and guidance

Adaptation for collaboration

Course organisation

Acknowledgments

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

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The study was partially supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union under Grant KA3MP-2013-4764/001-001 Promoting nowledge Work Practices in Education; the KNORK project; http://knork.info.

Hjort, Holvikivi, Vesikivi & Lukkarinen, (2015), Student Collaboration and Independence from Day One in Higher Education. 43rd Annual SEFI Conference, June 29 - July 2, 2015, Orleans, France

47Photo: Sakari Lukkarinen@Crete 2013