Saskia Lindhoud’s SUTQ project focused on improving how first-year bachelor’s students engage with her blended-learning course on Chemical Equilibria. Her goal? To better understand student learning behaviour and explore how peer learning and online tools can improve outcomes.
Takeaways
Saskia explored three main questions in her project:
- How can learning analytics provide insights into online learning?
- What data is needed to guide student study habits?
- How does peer learning improve motivation and results?
By analysing how students interacted with online content, she found they approached resources differently: pencasts were viewed in full, while mini-lectures were revisited selectively. However, the resolution of the data was not detailed enough to monitor progress effectively. Her incorporation of group discussions created a stronger sense of community, with students reporting they felt more engaged and supported.
Lessons learned
Through her SUTQ, Saskia realised the importance of shifting roles in blended learning:
- Teachers should act as facilitators, not just transmitters of knowledge.
- Students must move from passive learners to active creators of knowledge.
She also noticed a surprising trend: students often hesitated to bring their peer-generated answers to exams, citing uncertainty about their validity. This highlighted a need to address how students handle scientific uncertainty.
Growth and recognition
Saskia’s SUTQ project expanded her interest in understanding how students learn best. Peer learning has become a cornerstone of her approach, and she now applies what she learned to other courses. Her work has not gone unnoticed. Two of her articles on SURF Vraagbaak were among the top 10 most-read in 2023, and she is working to publish more of her findings.
Challenges
One challenge Saskia faced was the timing of her learning analytics setup. It was implemented just one day before her course started. With more preparation, she could have gathered better data. She also learned the value of using standardised survey questions to gain deeper insights into student motivation.
Advice for SUTQ participants
Saskia encourages others to embrace the SUTQ process fully. “It’s an investment, but it gives you new perspectives and tools to improve your teaching. Interacting with colleagues across disciplines adds so much value.” Saskia’s story shows how the SUTQ programme can transform your teaching and student engagement. Ready to take your teaching further? Join the SUTQ programme and see the impact for yourself.
