Increasing students’ motivation in higher education by designing a specific curriculum has always been a challenging but very complex process. The Department of Business, Finance and Marketing (BFM) of The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) initiated a redesign of the curricula with the major goals of increasing flexibility of learning opportunities and offering students a more motivating, inspiring and richer diversity of learning experiences. In the literature of learning in higher education this has often been labeled as ‘offering extracurricular learning opportunities’. The redesign of the curriculum implies that the new one will result in an enhancement of the flexibility of the curriculum, by offering learning opportunities beyond the borders of specific programs like marketing, finance or entrepreneurship and retail management. The richness and diversity should create flexible platforms, offering students the possibility to enrich their career choices to design their own personalised career path, hopefully maximizing the possibilities for their talent development. However, very little is known about the relationship between the students’ satisfaction with extracurricular learning opportunities, aiming at the personalisation of students’ career choices, and their motivation. In this chapter we describe our research into this relationship between student motivation and learning environments. Designing a network curriculum by increasing the possibility of extracurricular learning opportunities in higher education could have a positive impact on students’ motivation when it is combined with activities to increase goal students’ commitment. This depends on teachers’ qualities to communicate the valence and instrumentality of the learning possibilities offered for the prospective work environment. This is a complex issue however. Teachers from different educational programs, even in the same domain, have a different orientation on existing learning opportunities within one specific program. Excellent coaching skills by tutors are important. These coaching skills are necessary to support students in the process of envisioning extracurricular learning opportunities when important career choices have to be made.
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Basic motor competencies (BMC) are a prerequisite for children to be physically active, participate in sports and thus develop a healthy, active lifestyle. The present study provides a broad screening of BMC and associations with age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and extracurricular physical activity (PA) in 10 different European countries. The different country and regional contexts within Europe will offer a novel view on already established BMC associations. The cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 regions in 10 European countries in 2018. The motor competence areas, object movement (OM) and self-movement (SM), were assessed using the MOBAK-1-2 test instrument in 3758 first and second graders (age: M = 6.86 ± 0.60 years; 50% girls) during Physical Education classes. Children were questioned about their extracurricular PA and age. Their body weight and height were measured in order to calculate BMI. Statistical analyses included variances and correlations. The results showed significant differences in BMC levels between countries (OM: F = 18.74, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.048; SM: F = 73.10, p < 0.001, η 2 = 0.163) whereas associations between BMC and correlates were similar. Boys performed significantly better in OM while girls performed better in SM. Age was consistently positively related to OM and SM with older children reaching higher levels of BMC than younger ones. While participation rates for extracurricular PA differed widely, participation in ball sports was correlated with OM and SM. Participation in individual sports showed a significant association with SM. In summary, BMC levels of children seem to depend on where they live and are strongly related to their participation in extracurricular PA. Therefore, education and health policies, in order to enhance motor competence development and PA participation, are recommended. Further research on country-specific Physical Education frameworks and their influence on BMC will provide more insights into structural factors and cultural characteristics of BMC development. On a school level, support tools and educational materials for teachers about BMC may enable children to achieve a basic level of motor competencies through Physical Education, contributing to lifelong participation in PA.
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A decline in both student well-being and engagement were reported during the COVID-pandemic. Stressors and internal energy sources can co-exist or be both absent, which might cohere with different student needs. This study aimed to develop student profiles on emotional exhaustion and engagement, as well as examine how profiles relate to student participation, academic performance, and overall well-being. Survey-data from 1,460 Dutch higher education students were analyzed and resulted in a quadrant model containing four student profiles on engagement and emotional exhaustion scores. Semi-structured interviews with 13 students and 10 teaching staff members were conducted to validate and further describe the student profiles. The majority of the survey participants were disengaged-exhausted (48%) followed by engaged-exhausted students (29%). Overall, the engagedenergized students performed best academically and had the highest levels of well-being and participation, although engaged-exhausted students were more active in extracurricular activities. The engaged exhausted students also experienced the most pressure to succeed. The qualitative validation of the student profiles demonstrates that students and teachers recognize and associate the profiles with themselves or other students. Changes in the profiles are attributed to internal and external factors, suggesting that they are not fixed but can be influenced by various factors. The practical relevance of the quadrant model is acknowledged by students and teachers and they shared experiences and tips, with potential applications in recognizing students’ well-being and providing appropriate support. This study enriches our grasp of student engagement and well-being in higher education, providing valuable insights for educational practices.
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This article presents and discusses an extracurricular, co-constructed programme: “The Catalyst Club” as a form of Artistic Educational Commoning (AEC). Having been developed as part of a PhD research at Minerva Art Academy (Groningen, TheNetherlands), The Catalyst Club (TCC) explored new perspectives on the education of artists and designers in a globalized world and created alternative modes of operating in higher art education. It brought together students, alumni, teachers from a range of disciplines, and external participants. During developing TCC, the author occupied a dual role as researcher and participant, working together with others in an artistic co-creative process. TCC drew on and developed the methods relating to Collaborative Autoethnography, Participatory Action Research and Artistic Research. This study presents AEC as a communal effort to build spaces for learning and experimentation. They are created through interaction and cooperation, based on social relations and the production of shared values. As such it can offer a counterbalance to the extensive individualisation, instrumentalization, and commodification of communities in higher art education. The article formulates some recommendations on how AEC can reconnect the education of artists and designers with the role of the arts in wider technological, societal, and political contexts.
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Buitenschools leren is een breed begrip waar verschillende betekenissen aan worden toegekend; buitenschoolse activiteiten zijn hier een onderdeel van. In deze bijdrage wordt helderheid verschaft in het begrip buitenschools leren
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In September 2009 the department of Engineering of Fontys University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands has started a pilot honours program for excellent engineering students called PRogram OUstanding Development (PROUD). Aim of this program is to give those engineering students, who have the ambition, the opportunity to work on extra profession related challenges in their study. By means of this PROUD program Fontys University of Applied Sciences is responding to the wishes of students for extra curricular activities and increasing need from the industry for excellent professionals with an extra level of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. In this paper the courses offered at the Engineering department of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences are discussed. Different study possibilities/routings for students were developed depending on earlier acquainted competences, adaptation abilities to our system (special possibilities for slow starters) and tracking and tracing by intensive study coaching. This resulted in an improvement of the yield of students to 74% of students started in 2008. After working successfully on reducing the drop out rate of our engineering students the department focused on possibilities for excellent students. The department started the PROUD pilot together with engaged engineering students. In 2008 engineering students have carried out a research among their fellow students, lecturers, other institutes [1] and industry. This resulted in a quite different approach of an honours program for the department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering. In the PROUD program the student is stimulated to personally shape his educational career and to explicitly work on developing his own competences. The PROUD excellent program starts after the first year and extends to at least 3 semesters in the following years. The student, guided by a supervisor and outside the regular study time, is working on building an excellent portfolio at the university as well as in industry. During this period the PROUD student will work in industry one day a week in average. This is on top of his bachelor educational program. The students will receive an excellent honours certificate together with their bachelor's degree at the end of the study to express their honourable work. Each year about 20 students apply for a place in PROUD but thus far only about 3-4 passed the first interview round. It turns out that student, university and industry are eager to participate in this PROUD program.
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Herziene en uitgebreide versie van onderzoeksrapport naar de stand van zaken van buitenschools muziekonderwijs in de regio's Noord- en Oost-Nederland.
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De tussenrapportage van Tijd voor Toekomst 2024 richt zich op de relatie tussen de schoolcontext en de thuiscontext, en onderzoekt de opbrengsten van verrijkte schooldagen vanuit het perspectief van ouders en leerlingen. Op basis van vragenlijsten en focusgroepen met ouders en kinderen wordt duidelijk dat het programma brede waardering kent, maar ook vraagt om verdere verfijning en structurele verankering.Ruim 70% van de ouders is bekend met Tijd voor Toekomst, al betekent bekendheid niet automatisch actieve deelname van kinderen. Ouders waarderen het programma vooral vanwege het plezier dat het hun kinderen brengt, de mogelijkheid om nieuwe interesses en talenten te ontdekken, en de bijdrage aan de brede ontwikkeling van hun kind. Daarnaast spelen ook praktische motieven een rol: de verlengde opvangstructuur biedt ruimte voor werk of andere verplichtingen. Tegelijkertijd noemen ouders ook belemmeringen, zoals vermoeidheid bij hun kind, een gebrek aan rustmomenten, en organisatorische knelpunten. Met name de aansluiting op reguliere schooltijden of kinderopvang kan verbeterd worden. Ook wordt het aanbod soms als te fragmentarisch of herhalend ervaren, waardoor verdieping en continuïteit missen.Vanuit het perspectief van kinderen blijkt dat zij hun ervaringen met verrijkte schooldagen graag thuis delen, vooral als het om leuke, leerzame of nieuwe activiteiten gaat. De meeste ouders reageren positief en betrokken, wat kinderen stimuleert om meer te vertellen. De interactie thuis blijkt daarmee een belangrijke schakel in de beleving van het programma. De inschrijving voor activiteiten verloopt meestal in goed overleg tussen ouder en kind, waarbij het kind zijn of haar voorkeuren aangeeft en ouders de praktische stappen zetten. Wel zorgt de snelheid van inschrijven soms voor spanning, wat de deelname van kinderen uit minder betrokken thuissituaties onder druk kan zetten.De opbrengsten van Tijd voor Toekomst op leerlingniveau laten (nog steeds) een gemengd beeld zien. Het zelfvertrouwen van kinderen is licht gestegen sinds de start van het programma, al is er tegelijkertijd sprake van een dalende trend in het zelfbeeld: minder kinderen geven aan tevreden te zijn met wie ze zijn. Op het gebied van gezondheid geven meer kinderen aan dagelijks te ontbijten en lid te zijn van een sportvereniging. Wat betreft motivatie en toekomstgerichtheid blijkt dat kinderen overwegend positief zijn over de activiteiten, al geven zij minder vaak aan dat ze nieuwe dingen ontdekken of nieuwe verenigingen leren kennen dan bij eerdere metingen. Vooral jongere kinderen profiteren nog sterk van de vernieuwing, terwijl oudere kinderen een afname rapporteren in enthousiasme. Ook schoolplezier lijkt niet wezenlijk toe te nemen door het programma. Hoewel kinderen waarderen dat ze langer op school kunnen blijven voor leuke activiteiten, is het effect op hun motivatie en leerhouding beperkt.
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Een jongerennetwerk is een plek waar jongeren sociale contacten kunnen opdoen en onderlinge steun krijgen. Ook zorgt commissie- en bestuurswerk voor een groei van hun persoonlijke, professionele vaardigheden. Tijdens de eindconferentie deelde lectoraat Diversiteitsvraagstukken inzichten over hoe de deelname van jongeren aan een netwerk of community bij kan dragen aan het realiseren van hun toekomst. Ze leerden hoe deelname aan een jongerennetwerk bijdraagt aan een positief zelfbeeld, een positieve identiteit en het versterken van ambities. Hierdoor krijgen zij de kracht om vol zelfvertrouwen een plek te vinden binnen de onderwijs- of arbeidsomgeving.
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Deze infosheet onderbouwt de meerwaarde van studentparticipatie voor hbo instellingen. Daarnaast schetsen we een theoretisch kader voor studentparticipatie en potentiële richtingen voor vervolgonderzoek.
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