Course Science Teaching

The course N/T608/07 Science Teaching is being offered by the Graduate School of Natural Sciences/GSNS and Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Aarhus University, spring 2027.

ECTS credits:
2.5 ECTS

Note: For PhD students at Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS:
It is mandatory for all PhD students at GSTS to take the course Science Teaching.

PhD students from GSTS earn additionally 0.5 ECTS for activities at the department as a follow-up on the Science Teaching course. Please see further instructions at the GSTS website (LINK).

Course parameters:
No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 8 hours online course over 2 weeks and 3 mandatory course days. Contact hours: 17 hours, Project work: 25 hours, Preparation/online work: 20,5 hours. 62.5 hours in total. Course participants will also be doing assignments before and between course days. Capacity limits: 54

Objectives of the course:
The course objective is to strengthen your teaching skills and competences as a PhD student. The course provides guidance and inspiration for planning your teaching within science and technology disciplines based on principles for student-centred learning. During the course, you will get hands-on experience with teaching techniques and technologies to enhance students’ active participation and learning. In collaboration with peers, you will learn to apply tools to identify and find solutions for challenges in your own teaching, and you will train your teaching skills by applying teaching techniques and technologies in your own teaching or observing others.

The course addresses theories and methods relevant to the diverse teaching formats PhD students at NAT and TECH engage in- including co-supervision, classroom and laboratory teaching, peer and outreach activities, and other university teaching contexts. Participants can, to a wide extent, focus on formats most relevant to their own practice.

Learning outcomes and competences:
At the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Plan teaching and learning activities in own practice according to principles for active learning and intended learning outcomes
• Identify, use, and evaluate relevant techniques and technologies to support active learning, conceptual understanding, and participation
• Develop strategies to create inclusive and engaging learning environments in own practice
• Use effective feedback and assessment strategies to support student learning
• Collaborate with others to identify and evaluate solutions to challenges in own practice

Compulsory programme:
Participants are required to attend the full programme on Course Day 1 and must have an overall attendance of at least 80% to complete the course. Participants who are absent from Course Day 1 will not be able to continue. All required assignments must be completed and approved.

Course contents:
The course addresses teaching and learning in the natural and technical sciences at university level and focuses on the educational contexts and teaching practices most relevant to PhD students. These include formal teaching settings such as courses and supervisory roles as well as informal learning contexts including outreach activities.

Across these contexts, participants will explore teaching methods and technologies applicable in a range of teaching formats commonly used in science and technology education, including problem-solving sessions, laboratory- and fieldwork, programming classes, student presentations and dialogue-based activities.

The course is highly practice-oriented and provides opportunities for participants to apply and reflect on course content in their own teaching practice.

Prerequisites:
PhD student at Aarhus University who is teaching a class.
NB: The course is compulsory for all new PhD students starting their PhD education 1 October 2015 or later and who have teaching obligations as part of their employment as a PhD fellow or a student teacher.

Name of lecturer:

Rikke Frøhlich Hougaard, Centre for Educational Development, AU
Annika Büchert Lindberg,  Centre for Educational Development, AU
Karen Louise Møller, Centre for Educational Development, AU
Simon Raaby Holmgaard Poulsen, Centre for Educational Development, AU
Karl-Johan Schmidt Nielsen, Centre for Educational Development, AU
Emil Lohse, Centre for Educational Development, AU

Course structure:
The course consists of an 8 hours’ online module over 2 weeks (this part is flexible with no meetings), 2.5 obligatory course days with preparatory work and approximately 25 hours of project work between course days.

Teaching methods:
Course participants will get hands-on experience with active learning and classroom assessment techniques, and develop and implement new activities in their own teaching. The teaching is organized as a combination of short lectures, group and class discussion, as well as individual and group assignments and project work. Teaching will take place both on-campus and online.

Course homepage:
Brightspace

Course assessment:
Course assessment is based on participation in compulsory programme and approval of all assignments.

Recommended knowledge for participation:
Preferably, participants should be teaching a class in the same time period as taking the course, or at least have knowledge of which course they will be teaching.

Provider:
The Centre for Educational Development, the Graduate School of Natural Sciences, and Graduate School of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University

Time:
Online module: 12 January to 26 January 2027. Please note that there is no physical attendance on the specified dates. There are online tasks to be completed within the indicated time period.

On campus course days: 2nd February, 24th February and 3 June 2027.

Place:
Online: Brightspace 

On campus course days: AU Conference Centre

No-show/late cancellation fee
Our standard attendance rules apply (GSNS or GSTS) unless otherwise stated in the course description. Exceeding the allowed absence will result in a no-show fee of DKK 1,200.

Course participants on our transferable skills courses, who do not show up at the course or cancel their course participation after the course cancellation deadline, will be required to pay a no-show fee/late-cancellation fee. Exceptions may apply in certain cases, such as reported illness to the course administrator/course team. In case of late cancellation due to illness, we may require a doctor’s note from you.

The fee has been introduced due to many late cancellations, thus preventing people from the waiting lists to have a seat at the courses.

Course dates:

• 02 February 2027 09:30 - 16:00
• 24 February 2027 09:30 - 16:00
• 03 June 2027 09:30 - 14:00