Teaching Concept

 

The teaching activities of the TIME Research Area seek to enable not only the acquisition of scientific knowledge, but also the development of problem-solving, methodological, social and linguistic competencies of participants.

Interactive: For this purpose, all courses comprise interactive elements that rely on participant-centred teaching approaches such as case-based discussions, structured debates and student presentations. These are supported by blended learning techniques such as discussion boards, wikis, video lectures or online tests, which are made available primarily via the e-learning platform RWTHmoodle.

Project-based: Courses typically contain different forms of social interaction such as partner and group work. They enable participants to interact within heterogeneous teams to analyse and develop solutions for complex challenges. To support each team in its endeavours, TIME members provide intensive coaching during the entire project.

Research-oriented: Master-level courses in particular are highly research-oriented. This involves the critical engagement with and joint discussion of scientific articles in their original version. Participants also obtain the opportunity to develop own research questions and experience the entire research process starting with the development of hypotheses and ending with the presentation of their findings. For this purpose, participants benefit for example from access to large-scale datasets, software training and/or weekly workshops in the computer lab.

English: Courses are taught almost exclusively in English. This reflects the growing internationalization of research, teaching and practice and accounts for the fact that a solid command of English has become essential in today’s globalized world for researchers and practitioners alike.

Our TIME Teaching Approach - Blended Learning explained: