Abstracts

One of the remarkable features of innovative learning environments is solving complex, open-ended problems in collaborative teams of students from different disciplines and stakeholders from various backgrounds. Multidisciplinary teamwork is evidenced to have positive impacts on students’ skills d...

Microscopy is an essential technique in biology, chemistry and physics. Therefore, training in microscopy is crucial in science education. However, there is a gap between theory and practice as microscopes are perceived as “black boxes” rather than instruments that use geometrical and wave optic...

Theoretical and educational significance: Dealing with complex global challenges related to sustainable development requires problem-solving competences (Wiek et al., 2011). Effective problem-solving involves identifying and defining the problem, planning a solution strategy by organizing prior know...

To enable transformation towards sustainability, changes at all levels, from global systems to individual action, are needed. This includes the process of learning new, more sustainable alternatives and “unlearning” old routines. At the individual and group level, such processes can be supported...

Using a case study of healthy food systems, we aim to organise an interactive "Test Your Challenge" session to develop an urban food lab to be implemented in low- and middle-income countries for international master’s students. Your participation is crucial in identifying potential risks that coul...

The teaching of engineering is not a neutral endeavour (Martin et al, 2021). It conveys a vision as to what are the values of the profession and the responsibilities that students have as future engineers (Riley, 2008). This is more so the case with Challenge Based Learning, a pedagogy that exposes ...

Extended abstract In today's rapidly evolving world, societies face complex challenges that span environmental, social, and economic dimensions, as framed by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (UNESCO, 2020). These global goals provide a framework for addressing urgent sustainability issues, a...

Background: In Challenge-Based Learning (CBL), real-world, open-ended challenges drive student learning (Doulougeri et al., 2024), with feedback playing a vital role in helping students recognize key learning moments in the learning trajectory (Martin et al., 2024) and thus improving the quality of ...

Preparing for Complex Challenges: Engaging Students with Mini-Challenges Using a CBL-Canvas Theoretical relevance and background A remarkable characteristic of Challenge-based Learning (CBL) is the focus on open-ended real-world challenges as a central part of the learning environment aiming to prep...

INTRODUCTION: Universities all over the world are exploring what the future university should look like (e.g., TU/e, 2019, KTH, 2022; MIT, 2022, Harvard, 2022). Key elements in this future are reflection and self-directed learning, as they are important competences to cultivate resilient professiona...

Setting Our minor program Expedition the Healthy North hosts an educational program for students from the Applied Sciences, University and Secondary Vocational Education in the North of Groningen. Students collaborate in diverse teams on an authentic, open-ended challenge related to public health in...

Introduction Within Challenge-based Learning (CBL) students engage in open challenges while working in interdisciplinary teams. In these teams, students frequently face different triggers, such as competing goals, the lack of shared mental models or the lack of ability to narrow down a challenge [1,...

Introduction In 2022 the Technical University of Eindhoven (TU/e) introduced its redesigned three-year bachelor program. This new program requires CBL to be a part of the curriculum throughout each year of the program. CBL differs from traditional lecture-based education. With this difference in edu...

Putting together the puzzle pieces – Tolerating ambiguity workshop Workshop proposal for CBL conference 2025 To be able to tackle the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous challenges of our world, current and future employees need to acquire fresh perspectives and a transdisciplinary approac...

Abstract: Challenge-based learning courses are increasingly prevalent in higher education curricula. These courses involve partnering with real-world actors to tackle real-world problems, perhaps most notably the contemporary sustainability challenge. How to balance environmental sustainability with...