University Teaching in Social Science and Humanities (2025)

Welcome to University Teaching in Social Science and Humanities

The course objective is to develop participants’ foundational capacity toteach in a university setting. Specifically, the course aims to develop PhD students’ teaching competencies equivalent to level 1 of the Danish framework for advancing university pedagogy (https://www.iaspbl.aau.dk/projects/danish-framework-for-advancing-university-pedagogy).

Requirements:

The basis of the course is the practice of the participants. Thus, it is an absolute requirement that participants hold teaching obligations the semester they follow the course.

Timeframe:

The course is spread out over more or less an entire semester to allow participants to experiment with their own teaching and receive feedback in the course.

The course opens with a full day (9-16). Followed by four half days (9-12.30) a month between each day

This opening day is placed before the beginning of the semester (Ultimo January/ Ultimo August). The day provides a basic introduction to higher education pedagogy. Opening day is held in Aalborg and is mandatory for all particpantns. Furthermore, participants are divided into small groups or professional learning communities (PLC’s) in which the participants will work the rest of the course. PLC’s will meet and discuss teaching experiences at every meeting. PLC meetings are held in Aalborg and Copenhagen respectively.

Overall Learning Objectives:

• The overall learning objectives link to the Danish framework of advancing university pedagogy and ensure that participants under supervision are able to:
• Plan and carry out individual teaching and supervision activities
• Organize and carry out assessment
• Evaluate their teaching and teaching activities

Further, the course ensures that participants can:

• Create a constructive learning-oriented teaching environment
• Participate in collaboration on teaching with peers
• Identify resources for developing teaching quality

Teaching methods:

The course combines short lectures with student centred activities such as training exercises, group discussions, peer observation and feedback. The methods adopted will be discussed as exemplars of teaching strategies.

Description of teaching portfolio:

Participants are required to create a teaching portfolio. They will receive instructions in creating a portfolio and they will be required to give each other feedback on their respective portfolio. The portfolio can be in writing. However, participants’ will be encouraged to experiment with form and content. Furthermore, the course will discuss the requirements of a well-functioning portfolio in future job applications. 

Programme day one:

Structure:

Program Opening day (Only In Aalborg)

• 9.00-10.00: Welcome, introduction to the program
• 10.00-11.00: University teaching at a PBL university
• 11.00-12.00: Group supervision
• 12.00: Lunch
• 13-14: Lecturing
• 14:00: First PLC meeting
• 15.30: wrapping up

Program PLC meetings:

Each PLC meeting is divided into two sections. In the first 1½ hours a theme is discussed. Typically, one of the conveners will open with a short presentation to be discussed by the group afterwards. The group is also required to read texts in relation to the theme of the day sent out before the PLC meeting. These texts will likewise be included in the conversation. Theme of the day is decided by the group on the prior meeting. Example of themes could be Lecturing, group examination, groups supervision and group conflict and more. The other half of the meeting takes place in the PLC’s in which participants discuss their own teaching experiences. These experiences are used as basis for collective reflections on teaching and learning. Finally, each day ends with a lunch (12-12.30). In this way the idea is that the course will not only provide participants with theoretical and practical knowledge about university teaching but also help them establish a social network across departments.

Peer observations and supervision:  

Between each PLC meeting participants are to engage in peer supervision, which involves observation of each other’s teaching followed by peer supervision. Participants will receive training in teaching observations and peer supervision prior to the first round of observations.

We are of course aware that not everybody will have teaching obligations from one month to the next but hopefully at least one will have some obligations between each meeting. Furthermore, other arrangements can be made. One time the group will be invited to observe one of the conveners teach and it is also possible to arrange observations of other (more or less) experienced colleagues.

• 16.00: See you next time

Nikolaj Stegeager, Culture & Learning, SHARE-PBL

• Maria Hvid Stenalt, Culture & Learning, SHARE-PBL
• Jes Lynning Harfeld, Culture & Learning, RECAST
• Nikolaj Stegeager, Culture & Learning, SHARE-PBL
• Lars Birch Andreasen

19/8:   9-15.00 (Aalborg)
26/9:   9-12.30 (Aalborg & Copenhagen)
21/10: 9-12.30 (Aalborg & Copenhagen)
18/11: 9-12.30 (Aalborg & Copenhagen)
12/12: 9-12.30 (Aalborg & Copenhagen)

AAU Innovate, Thomas Manns Vej 25

AAU Campus Copenhagen, A.C. Meyers Vænge 15

Important information concerning PhD courses: 

There is a no-show fee of DKK 3,000 for each course where the student does not show up. Cancellations are accepted no later than 2 weeks before the start of the course. Registered illness is of course an acceptable reason for not showing up on those days. Furthermore, all courses open for registration approximately four months before start of the course.

We cannot ensure any seats before the deadline for enrolment, all participants will be informed after the deadline, approximately 3 weeks before the start of the course. 

For inquiries regarding registration, cancellation or waiting list, please contact the PhD administration at phdcourses@adm.aau.dk  When contacting us please state the course title and course period. Thank you.