The Student Perspective at the Centre of Attention: A Dialogue that Inspires Change
The discussion panel entitled “Czego uczą nas studia? Perspektywa studencka” [What Do We Learn from University Studies? The Student Perspective], which featured students of Microbiology and Biotechnology from the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz was one of the events held as part of the Teaching Week. The discussion was moderated by Dr Anna Jasińska from the Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology and was attended by Anna Zazula, Julia Dulska, Maria Szpakowska, Maciej Krasowski and Krzysztof Boczar.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss factors that support effective learning, the forms of classes that engage students most successfully, as well as the experiences gained during university studies that prove to be the most valuable. The strong interest shown by participants and the numerous questions asked by academic teachers demonstrated the importance of including the student perspective in the design of the teaching and learning process.
Thanks to this discussion, we learned, among other things, that students highly value clear rules, understanding the purpose of assigned tasks, having the opportunity to ask questions and make mistakes without fear of assessment, as well as classes that require them to think, act, and actively participate in discussions. Feedback and the feeling that lecturers treat them seriously are also important to them.
One particularly important conclusion for academic teachers is that students take away much more from their studies than the content included in the syllabus. Through their communication style, responses to mistakes, expectations, and willingness to give students space for independent work, teachers can also foster courage, responsibility, and cooperation.
Modern Teaching and the Exchange of Experience
The Teaching Week also included numerous workshops and lectures devoted to modern teaching methods. One of the key conclusions emerging from the event was the need to look at the educational process more often from the student's perspective, as well as to strengthen cooperation and the exchange of experience among academic teachers.
Among the workshops on offer was “Projekt Jajecznica” [The Scrambled Eggs Project] – Fundamentals of Project Management in Practice, led by dr hab. Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology. The workshop introduced participants to the fundamentals of project management and demonstrated how to plan activities, organise teamwork, and effectively achieve established objectives.
We would like to thank the organisers of the Teaching Week for creating a space for discussion, sharing good practices, and jointly seeking new inspirations for the development of higher education teaching.
Source: Dr Anna Jasińska (Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
Edit: Mateusz Kowalski, Kamila Knol-Michałowska (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz)
Photos: Łukasz Dobiński (Career Office and Student Activity Team)
