Education Support Centre - Wageningen UR

Welcome on the Education Support Centre Course Registration Website.

The training programme for the Academic Year 2021/2022 (September - January) can be viewed by clicking on the image below. In the PDF of the image you can click on the course titles to register for the course. If you would like to follow one of these sessions, but the course schedule does not offer a suitable opportunity, please send a request to education.support@wur.nl. 

 

Please note:

With your registration to one of our courses you agree with the Education Support Centre Terms and Conditions.

01. Orientation to teaching and supervision

  • 01 Start to teach
    The course introduces you to some basic teaching and learning principles. We will introduce the concept of constructive alignment as it relates to constructing learning outcomes, activating students and assessment. You will be given the opportunity to practice teaching skills. This course is designed for teaching staff (e.g. lecturers, PhDs, teaching assistants) with little experience in teaching (at Wageningen University and Research). It is therefore a suitable course as part of an orientation on teaching and supervising. Specifically our target group is: PhD candidates, post-docs and teaching assistants.
  • 03a Start to supervise BSc & MSc thesis students
    In this 2,5 hour workshop you will be provided with some general information about supervising thesis students at Wageningen University and discuss good practices, expectations, basic skills. Furthermore there will be room for questions.

02. Mandatory courses/activities for the UTQ

  • Assessment: Written exams – blended course
    Lecturers who want a better balance between: their interim exam, the learning outcomes and question types. And who want to improve on the formulation and grading of their open and closed questions.
  • Assessment: Written exams – guided portfolio writing
    In this meeting we will discuss the key elements in ensuring exam quality. When you register for the meeting, you will receive the assignment details. Completion of the assignments about the ‘quality of written exams’ (Part IIa) is a pre-requisite for joining this meeting to get (peer) feedback. In this way, you can make further improvements and include these in your UTQ portfolio.
  • Assessment: Graded assignments – self study + peer feedback
    In this training you will work on the key elements in ensuring the quality of graded assignments. When you register for this training, you will receive the assignment details and info on the kick-off and the peer feedback meeting. Completion of the assignments in Brightspace about the ‘quality of graded assignments’ is a pre-requisite for joining the meeting to get (peer) feedback. In this way, you can make further improvements and include these in your UTQ portfolio.
  • 00 UTQ introduction meeting
    In this meeting you will get information about the University Teaching Qualification trajectory (UTQ; in Dutch BKO). You will get insight in your strengths and points for development in relation to the UTQ competences. After this meeting you will know what next steps to take.
  • 000 UTQ personal intake
    In the individual intake interview you will meet your UTQ supervisor. Together you will translate your personal focus per UTQ competence into a meaningful programme, a timeframe and a design for the assignments; considering your own teaching practice, the duration of the programme (usually no longer than three years), the timeframe of 155 hours and the admission criteria. The contract will be the basis for this meeting.
  • 05 (Re)designing a course
    In this 3 day blended learning course you will align learning outcomes, assessment strategy and learning activities for your own course. Taking this course is a good start if you need to redesign your course. For example, because you are facing increasing students numbers, or you wish to re-use online material developed during the Covid-19 pandemic or because your course has an important role in the skills learning trajectories.
  • 13 University Teaching: Putting theory into practice (Peer Learning Meetings)
    University teaching (peer learning meetings) focuses on getting a deeper understanding of your classroom experiences by comparing and connecting your experiences to educational concepts, models, theory, good practices with fellow participants and ESC trainers. The trajectory consists of self-work assignments in a digital platform (Brightspace) and six themed live meetings (online or face to face, depending on covid regulations). The course focuses on UTQ competence 2. Teaching and supervising.

03. Elective courses/activities for the UTQ

  • Boundary Crossing training for teachers
    During this hands-on course we will work with a combination of observational learning and experiential learning, relating to theoretical framework of Boundary Crossing.
  • 02 Teaching lab practicals
    This course is intended for people who teach lab practicals (technicians, PhDs, post-docs and other staff) and want to improve their teaching skills.
  • 03b Supervising BSc & MSc thesis students
    This two day course is meant for teachers/PhD‘s who have already supervised at least one or two BSc and/or MSc thesis students and want to learn more about supervising thesis students. In this course you exchange experiences, learn theories/models about effective supervising and practice several skills, like giving feedback, switching communication levels and asking open questions. All these elements come together when you will practice everything you have learned in a real life case simulation with an actor who plays the student. Recommendation: apply at least 3 months in advance since this course is fully booked rapidly.
  • 04 Lecturing
    This course is for those who want to use their lecture time in a beneficial way: by activating students and optimal presentation. The central theme in this training is to practice your lecture skills. We will, therefore, work in small groups, with a preferred amount of 5 participants. The course is given in English.
  • 06 Teaching in the Intercultural Classroom
    Wageningen University is an international university with students coming from more than 100 cultures. Cultural diversity has many educational benefits, such as increased collaboration, successful decision-making, greater creativity. However, cultural differences hugely impact our ability to value diversity, with biases and blind spots unknowingly blurring our view and blocking effective, inclusive teaching behaviour. This course is for lecturers to develop awareness and skills in order to interact effectively and appropriately with the culturally different students in today’s international classrooms.
  • 07 Brain Based Teaching
    Brain based teaching is the state of the art when it comes to approaching classroom teaching. New insights on how the brain works are translated into classroom strategies. During this training you will experience and practice lots of these strategies, so you can apply them to boost both your teaching and your student’s learning.
  • 10 Supervising Group Work
    In this 2-day course you will learn how to improve group performance and reduce free-riding, by getting all your students active and committed. You will practice with different stages of group development and corresponding roles of a supervisor. Topics are assigning team roles, team communication, (shared) leadership, creating an inclusive learning environment are also addressed. This course is meant for coaches or teachers who teach a course where group collaboration is an explicit part of the course.
  • 11 Gamified Design
    What can we learn and use from games to make learning more effective? We will explore the underlying mechanisms that make games so engaging and use this as a starting point for rethinking your own education.
  • 12 Teaching an online course
    In this course you will experience what it is like to participate in an online course and you will learn and practice e-moderating skills. This course is primarily meant for anyone who will be moderating an online course in a Distance Learning MSc programme.
  • 18b UTQ portfolio writing
    Have you have started writing your UTQ portfolio? and/or Do you need to book some time to write your portfolio? This is an opportunity to book time in your calendars to write and to have guidance and instant feedback from UTQ supervisors.

04. Study advisers

  • Introduction meeting for new study advisers - part 1
    In this meeting you will receive and share information about working as a study adviser at the WUR. After this meeting you know other (relatively) new study advisers a bit better and what your basic tasks contain. We will practice some communication techniques. Take into account that every study programme has his own specific tasks for study advisers as well. There will be a follow-up meeting on Friday 3rd of December
  • Interactive group meetings
    Want to create some variation in how to interact with (groups of) students? Get a taste of a SOLE (Self Organized Learning Environment), a specific form of interactive group meetings and together with colleagues reflect on possible use-cases in your daily guidance of students. NOTE!!: Due to the MSc Open Day on 9th of December, the date of this meeting 'Interactive group' might be changed.
  • Interactive theatre as work form
    Through the help of interactive theatre, Matthijs Kool and Pablo van Neste will be taking study advisers on a journey to reflect upon mental barriers we create around ourselves and our work. After experiencing it, we will take a moment to share how this work form can be used while working with your students.
  • Communication with compassion
    A workshop on how to communicate in a non-violent way.
  • Ins & outs of working as ‘vliegende keep’ study advisers (multi-deployable/interim)
    A presentation by Petra den Besten and Mique Menheere about our experiences followed by an interactive part and coffee\tea.
  • Suicide prevention training
    Gatekeeper training on 113-suicide-prevention provided by external trainers specialised on this topic. For more info look at: www.113.nl/academy Request from the trainers: You can only join this training if you can be present the full time from 9h00-13h00 and if you haven’t been confronted with a suicide in your work or private life during the last half year before the start of the training.
  • Study choice
    Successful studying is dependent of making the most fitting choices. In this workshop we explore a method (in Dutch) to facilitate students to do so. Provided by study adviser Mique Menheere.
  • Introduction meeting for new study advisers - part 2
    In this follow-up meeting, you will dive deeper into working as a study adviser at the WUR and your tasks and skills needed. If you were not able to join on the 30th of Sept you can still join this meeting.

05. Assessment and Examination

  • Workshop for Invigilators on BYOD exams
    This period we start with facilitating exams on student laptops (BYOD). Wageningen University is using special software to secure the laptops. More information is available at Student Support (https://wur-studentsupport.screenstepslive.com/m/106158). In this workshop, you learn more about the instructions, how the security software works and how to help students who are experiencing issues.
  • Designing assessments in Ans
    From September 2020 all digital assessment will take place in our new software Ans. In this training, you will learn you can design your assessment with open and/or closed questions in Ans and how to build and manage your question bank.
  • Assessment as a learning activity (formative)
    Do you want more insight in student learning during your course? In this online session we will discuss how you can use assessment as a learning activity. And how you can make it activating and informative for both students and yourself.
  • Re-designing assessment for online (summative assessment)
    Are you rethinking the assessment of your course? In this session we will discuss various options for assessment online.
  • Quick Start Ans
    In this online session you will get acquainted with the basics of Ans so that you can develop your own question bank and build your own exams. This session is offered almost every week, so if the available date does not fit, come back later!
  • Additional Q&A Ans
    Already done a quick start in Ans and using Ans for building your exams? In this online session you can ask your questions on this process that were not covered in the quick start or that you encountered when using Ans.
  • Group assignments: good use and assessment
    In this workshop series you can extend your knowledge and skills on several aspects of group assignments and their assessment. You can take part in one or more workshops of your interest. The series of four workshops combined can also form an Elective course for the UTQ.
  • Rubrics: How to use and develop them for feedback and assessment
    In this session we will explore how you can design rubrics and use them to facilitate student learning. We will start with a short general introduction on rubrics and have some small exercises to experience different aspects of using and developing rubrics.
  • 14 Writing multiple-choice and other closed question types
    In this workshop you will learn how to formulate closed questions that are valid, reliable and cover the right cognitive level.

06. Teaching tools & methods (Face-to-face)

In these courses/activities, you will learn about teaching methods & tools and learning activities that you can use to create an interactive and activating face-to-face (real life) learning environment.

  • Organising feedback on academic writing assignments (large groups)
    In the mind of many teachers, feedback on writing products is a very laborious and tedious process. However, when realizing the role of feedback in the learning process of students it is often possible to alleviate this task considerably. In this course you learn to organise feedback in an optimal way, including peerfeedback and digital tools.

07. Teaching tools & methods (online/digital)

In these courses/activities, you will learn about our Learning Management System Brightspace and other online/digital teaching tools that can help you shape your online and blended education. Activities can cover technical aspects of how to use the tools as well as didactics of online and blended learning.

  • Brightspace Introduction Training
    To give all teachers and educational supporters a smooth start in Brightspace, all can follow the Brightspace Introduction Training. Main topics in this training are: navigation, organizing and adding content, setting up online activities, such as assignments and discussion fora, setting up groups and following student’s progress.
  • Brightspace Introduction Training (Self-study)
    If you want to get familiar with Brightspace, but do not want to sign-up for a live session, you can sign-up for this self-study version. You will get access to the Brightspace and go through the materials at your own pace while doing the exercises in your practice course. Main topics in this training are: navigation, organizing and adding content, setting up online activities, such as assignments and discussion fora, setting up groups and following student’s progress.
  • Brightspace Training: Working with the grade book
    In this training you will learn more about the functionality of the Gradebook in Brightspace.
  • Brightspace Training: Tools for Assessment & (peer) Feedback
    Brightspace offers us various tools to assess students’ performance and give feedback. In this training, we will explore various tools; assignments, quizzes, self-assessments, surveys, rubrics, discussions and FeedbackFruits.
  • Brightspace Training: Create & (re)use content
    In this training you will learn about creating and (re-)using content in Brightspace. In Brightspace all kinds of content can be presented to students: texts, videos, images and presentations. In the training, we will introduce, explore and demonstrate content tools and teach you how you can create your own (interactive) content.
  • Brightspace Training: How to Copy a Course (Self-study)
    In this self-study Brightspace training you will learn how to copy your course and to make your course up to date and ready for use for the new period.
  • Brightspace Training: Using Groups (Self-study)
    In this self-study Brightspace training you will learn more about the functionality of using groups in Brightspace.
  • Brightspace Training: Tips & Tricks (Self-study)
    In the self-study Brightspace Training “Tips & Tricks: inspiration and time savers”, you will learn about user’s best practices in course design and execution.
  • Brightspace Training: Using MS Teams and MS Meetings
    In this interactive session you will learn how to work with MS Teams as digital collaboration and web-conferencing tool in your course, alongside the course Brightspace page.
  • Brightspace Training: Using Virtual Classroom (on demand)
    Virtual Classroom is the tool Brightspace offers to organize online, live meetings with students enrolled in your Brightspace course.
  • Brightspace Training: How to use FeedbackFruits
    FeedbackFruits offers online educational tools to facilitate peer & teacher feedback, online discussion, active studying and interactive classrooms. The tools are integrated and can be used from within Brightspace. In the training “How to use FeedbackFruits”, we will explore usage of the various tools and you will practise with setting up a FeedbackFruits activity.
  • Producing your own knowledge clip (self study)
    Knowledge clips are short video clips (5 to 7 minutes) in which the teacher explains a theory or concept or shows a skill or procedure. The course is a self study course, in which you do get feedback from a trainer.
  • Teaching and Designing a Blended Course (self-study)
    Learn effective design and teaching methods that blend synchronous and a-synchronous learning activities in online or partially on-campus courses. This is a short self-paced course and teaching reference.

08. Events & Other activities

In the events organised by ESC, you will discuss about good practices in teaching, get introduced to new learning technologies, and have the opportunity to learn from and exchange experiences with other educators.

  • Inspiration Lunch workshops
    Want to know more about technology enhanced learning or blended learning design? Visit one of our Inspiration workshops. Participation is free of charge. If the workshop is on campus, and the room/programme allows, lunch will be provided.
  • Demo session: FeedbackFruits Group Member Evaluation
    FeedbackFruits Group Member evaluation tool allows students to assess their peers’ collaboration skills. You can specify by which criteria students evaluate their peers’ contribution to group work. Additionally, you can require students to elaborate, by commenting on the feedback they provide their peers, thereby combining quantitative and qualitative feedback.
  • Q&A session: Starting up your hybrid classroom
    In this session on hybrid teaching, we will address: Getting started with the hybrid lecture; Didactics in a hybrid setting; Your questions on setting up and executing a hybrid session.
  • Demo and Q&A session: The GroupTool
    A new function in Brightspace - the GroupTool - makes it easier to make group divisions. In the GroupTool it is possible to filter students e.g. on program, start year, and whether or not they are in a group, with an easy user interface to do so. Also, you can provide students with a personalized Education Schedule by linking Brightspace groups to the TimeEdit schedule (groups). During this session we will demonstrate the GroupTool, share user experiences and answer questions you may have in regards to the tool.

09. On demand

These courses or activities are organised on demand. Depending on whether it is an individual support activity or course, we will try to plan an occurence when there is interest. Please send an e-mail to education.support@wur.nl. 

  • Redesign Lab intake
    There may be all sorts of reasons to renew your education. Often you can do this yourself. If you need help – perhaps because you do not know how to handle it or the task is too great – we would be happy to help in facilitating the process of re-design. You can e-mail education.support@wur.nl for an intake to discuss the possibilities.
  • Introduction Knowledge clips
    For teachers that are interested in the possibilities of knowledge clips in their courses and the development process of such a knowledge clip. Central questions are: - What is a knowledge clip? - What type of knowledge clip am I going to make? - How do I prepare a knowledge clip? - What kind of support can I get? - How do I organize it?
  • Camera training
    Knowledge clips are becoming more important as teaching activity within the WU. They are used as short video clips (5 to 7 minutes) in which the teacher explains a theory, concept or show a skill or procedure. In two half days you improve your skills in developing and recording a knowledge clip in front of the camera in the Greenroom Studio.
  • Organising IT in your course design
    This is an advanced course for teachers. Registration to this course is only possible when you have participated in the workshops “Online teaching methods to activate your students” and “Orientation on digital tools”.

10. Student Training & Support

Student training and workshops organized by Student Training & Development Centre

11. Surf your Stress

  • The Secret of Sleep: an interactive pyjama session
    The Secret of Sleep: an interactive pyjama session
  • Stress café – Let’s talk about ‘worrying
    Stress café 1
  • Laughter Yoga
    Have you ever felt stressed while laughing out loud? Laughter makes your muscles relax, your blood pressure drops and, endorphins are released into your blood. Laughter reduces stress and stimulates the body's immune system. And, above all, it's fun to do, so join in and ROFL.
  • Stress Less
    Discover your triggers for stress and scientifically proven ways of coping with it. What effects does stress have on your body, which stressors do you recognize andwhat are the symptoms? In this webinar positive psychology, neuroplasticity, and mindfulness will be addressed. Find out what might work for you! Joelle Lafeber is e-health trainer at Gezondeboel/Therapyland; an innovative e-health platform that aims to improve the mental wellbeing of its users by offering online training and workshops. WUR Student Training & Support will soon offer a broad variety of gezondeboel.nl trainings to students. *Sign up for a chance to WIN one of the three FREE massages at Sala Thai Wageningen!
  • Trying always succeeds – get rid of perfection stress
    For many of us, good is never good enough; we always strive for a 10+. We get so stressed out, we even postpone starting a complicated task because we fear it will not be perfect. This is such a shame because you will always succeed in trying! In a sparkling interactive workshop, Remko van der Drift challenges you with humor and enthusiasm to disarm the destructive thoughts of perfection stress. He trains your ‘failure muscles’ to help you to deal with the fear of not being good enough. Do you recognize this? And are you willing to start a new chapter? Join in andtry! Remko van der Drift is the founder of the Institute of Failure. *Sign up for a chance to WIN one of the three FREE massages at Sala Thai Wageningen!
  • Find your digital balance
    Can you imagine life without the internet or social media? Johan van Houten can! He went offline for an entire year. Back to a landline telephone, finding your way without Google Maps, postcards instead of apps, and flirting face to face in a café. The challenging times of COVID-19 forces us to spend even more time online. It’s a blessing and a curse at the same time. Don’t you wish you could take back control of your life that is ruled by e-mails, phones, and social media? In this workshop, Johan van Houten will share the benefits of spending time offline and gives practical tips on how to achieve a healthy digital balance, step by step. *Sign up for a chance to WIN one of the three FREE massages at Sala Thai Wageningen!
  • Breakfast Rave (Thuis Wageningen)
    On Monday 16 November the Breakfast Rave will take place. DJ Cal (MiniCulture) will fill your morning with great beats! What better way than to start your day with a FREE nutritious breakfast (vegan + glutenfree!) and dancing to the beat with your roommates. You can apply to pick up your breakfast between 08:00-09:30 at the Impulse building on Wageningen Campus. Don't forget to check out the livestream! At this moment, unfortunately all the free breakfasts are ‘sold out’. In case of cancellations, registration will be opened again.
  • Vision Board
    Do you lack focus? Is there chaos in your head? In this workshop, you define what is important to you, both personally and for your studies. Your vision board will help you achieve your goals. Want to get notified when this activity takes place again? Email laura.grootes@wur.nl!
  • Call it a day: how to switch off work
    COVID-19 turned our world upside down this year. Lecture halls were moved to Brightspace and our social life went down a notch or two. For some people FOMO(fear of missing out) turned into JOMO(joy of missing out), others see the walls of their tiny student room closing in on them. Thijs Launspach is a psychologist specializing in burnouts in young people. He wrote the book 'Fokking Druk' ("Effing busy") and recently 'Werk kan uit' (Work has an off switch). Sounds good, right? But how do you do that in a 12 m2 student room? How do you structure your life and stay motivated? In his master class, Thijs gives you 10 ways to study effectively at home while keeping an eye on your mental health. *Sign up for a chance to WIN one of the three FREE massages at Sala Thai Wageningen!
  • Breakfast Rave (Impulse, Campus)
    On Monday 16 November the Breakfast Rave will take place. DJ Cal (Miniculture) will fill your morning with great beats! What better way than to start your day with a FREE nutritious breakfast (vegan + glutenfree!) and dancing to the beat with your roommates. You can apply to pick up your breakfast between 08:00-09:30 at Impulse on campus. Don't forget to check out the livestream!
  • Walking meditation
    You don't have to sit on the floor to meditate. Go outside, breathe in some fresh air, and bring your body and mind in sync with exercises from outdoor lifecoach Yvonne.  By clicking "apply" you will receive an e-mail with the link to the Surf your Stress edition of an outdoor meditation podcast.