Who, me? Activating education

As a master’s student, you have already gained quite some experience in participating in education, shaping your view. Are you ready to switch perspectives? In this internship, you will advance your skills in transferring scientific knowledge to hands-on materials for two target groups: first-year students and our future master's students.

First, in this internship you will work on education for first-year Psychology students. In the Bachelor of Psychology at the UT, students work on projects with approximately 5 students. Now that you know more about Group Dynamics and Interventions, you can imagine what elements come into play when small groups with interdependent members collaborate for a short-term group goal… The Professional and Academic Skills component in module 2 contains two meetings on group dynamics, more specifically focusing on conflict in project teams. The classes are based on research in this specific target group, and the education is designed accordingly, using a variety of pedagogical and didactic working methods. In this internship, you will be involved in providing both meetings. Discussing how to improve these meetings is part of the internship. You can also observe classes to refine your own preparation or evaluation. Moreover, you will combine what you consider most relevant from both meetings into one meeting for students. You will also provide this self-developed meeting to a group of students.

Secondly, you will work on material for master's students. Last year, two interns developed an educational game that we use in the course on Group Dynamics and Interventions: Tribes of Utwentia. By the time you start your internship, you will have experience playing this game. No spoilers here.

A current limitation is the number of players being fixed at four. You will take this game to the next level, designing options for decreasing and expanding this number. When finding the ultimate option(s), you will adjust the game (including materials) accordingly. Testing ideas with real players is highly recommended. This is a creative process, encouraging perspective taking and demanding systematic thinking.

Education, project-based learning, group dynamics, intragroup conflict, social loafing

The section Psychology of Conflict, Risk and Safety at the University of Twente has a distinctive and unique profile in the areas of risk perception and risk communication, conflict and crisis management and the antecedents of risky, antisocial, and criminal behaviour. It currently includes 16 research staff members and 8 PhD students. We work from both a psychology and an engineering perspective and cooperate with other scientific disciplines, based on the “high tech, human touch” profile of the University of Twente.

Available in block 1B. This internship is open to 2 students.

Please contact the PCRS internship coordinator Miriam Oostinga (m.s.d.oostinga@utwente.nl).