I’m Iris Weernink and will be graduating this year from my study bedrijfseconomie at Saxion. Next to my study, I followed the Honours Program Creativity in Finance & Management. My last project bridged industries, so I thought about sectors I found interesting next to business and economics. I like to learn, so I wanted to do something with learning and teaching. I heard of the honours project the students in year two are conducting and was interested. I contacted Christoph Hinske, and he agreed to accompany me to take the project further. 

Context

COVID-19 is a crazy time with significant consequences for everybody. The government had advised students to work from home. This advice caused students to sit behind a screen in their room instead of being with their peers around a desk. Teachers couldn’t stand in front of the classrooms anymore and needed to teach their students through laptops. Saxion adapted very quickly to the new circumstances so the education could go on. But we all experienced how difficult it can be to connect through a screen. 

Process

In my project, I asked how digital tools help or hinder a collaborative relationship between students and teachers to happen. I looked into the digital tools currently used at Saxion and the digital tools students and staff use outside Saxion. I started by sending out a small survey to students and teachers to get a good picture of which digital tools are liked and less liked. After the answers were in, I converted the data to make a PowerBi dashboard. The dashboard made it possible to look into the data from different points of view and compare data points.

Insights

The data showed that the digital tools currently used by Saxion only give a little option to engage and build collaborative relationships. Students were less enthusiastic than staff about the current digital tools and would recommend the use of more innovative and engaging digital tools, currently not in use/ allowed by Saxion. These tools give options that aren’t available, thus, create opportunities that aren’t happening in the current educational context of Saxion. 

Recommendations

I recommend further look into the limitations put to our education due to the use of a limited range of digital tools and lesson plans and explore ways to allow for more engaging ones that allow students and teachers to build engaging and collaborative relationships more easily. 

Despite everything I wrote above, I believe; Nothing is better than fiscally engaging with others in a collaborative setting.