{"id":92001,"date":"2018-11-14T14:47:07","date_gmt":"2018-11-14T13:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=92001"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:23:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:23:08","slug":"new-education-lab-to-bring-about-education-reform","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2018\/11\/14\/new-education-lab-to-bring-about-education-reform\/","title":{"rendered":"New Education Lab to bring about education reform"},"content":{"rendered":"

The purpose of the new Education Lab, situated on the ground floor of the Polak Building, is to support and promote education reform. \u2018The creative space\u2019, as it is sometimes referred to by students, consists of discussion rooms, a small meeting room, two DIY recording rooms and a studio. The Lab can be used by anyone working on a teaching-related project.<\/p>\n

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The Rector, Rutger Engels, opened the new Erasmus Education Lab<\/span><\/p><\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cI hope that this Education Lab will not only be a place that will bring about education reform, but a meeting spot where ideas will be exchanged, so that we can all continue to inspire each other,\u201d said EUR\u2019s Rector, Rutger Engels, during the opening ceremony on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Digital component of teaching<\/h2>

The driving force behind the new lab was the Community for Learning and Innovation (CLI), a platform made up of representatives of all faculties that engage in education reform. \u201cWe are always on the lookout for ways to make the most of teaching processes,\u201d says Mirjam van de Woerdt, CLI\u2019s communications advisor.<\/p>\n

Digitisation plays a vital part in this. \u201cFor instance, lecturers can record their lectures beforehand, so that students can listen to them before the actual get-togethers. This will allow you to use the time scheduled for the actual lecture for a more in-depth discussion of the subject, answering in-depth questions or coaching,\u201d Van de Woerdt explains.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018Even though the Lab largely seems to be about digitisation, digitisation in and of itself is not the Lab\u2019s purpose\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t–<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMirjam van de Woerdt\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

In addition to the DIY recording rooms, where recording one\u2019s presentation or lecture is made easy, the Education Lab boasts a large studio. \u201cThis is a state-of-the-art studio,\u201d says Pjotr van Baarle, who is responsible for the technology used in the Lab. \u201cYou can host a talk show here or use Virtual Reality or Augmented Reality, which you can use, for instance, to re-enact certain events, such as an earthquake or a surgical procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything is\u00a0IP-based here,<\/em>\u201d Van Baarle goes on to say, \u201cwhich means we are connected all the time. If you wish to go \u2018live\u2019 for a nation-wide TV broadcast, we can arrange that in no time at all.\u201d<\/p>\n

But even though the Lab largely seems to be about digitisation, digitisation in and of itself is not the Lab\u2019s purpose, in Van de Woerdt\u2019s opinion. \u201cYou can also bring about education reform in very small ways, such as getting your students more involved or finding ways to obtain more feedback.\u201d As far as these things are concerned, the discussion rooms come in handy. \u201cThis is where you can attend inspiration sessions, or alternatively, you can attend teaching training, coaching or brainstorming sessions here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students-for-Students<\/h2>

Students will also be given a part to play in the Education Lab through the Students-for-Students platform, a group of students who help other students realise their ideas for education reform.<\/p>\n

Nadine Nieuwstad, a student member of CLI\u2019s steering group and the person in charge of projects carried out by students, believes that the new lab will make a great difference. \u201cIn my capacity as a student, I\u2019m really excited about the investments the university is making to bring about significant education reform,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to seeing how these new technologies will change subjects and degree programmes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The aforementioned new technologies cost EUR \u20ac4.3 million. The funds were drawn from the university\u2019s strategic budget and from the Campus-under-Construction budget. \u201cIt\u2019s a huge sum,\u201d admits Van de Woerdt. \u201cBut it\u2019s definitely worth the money, considering everything we\u2019re getting in return.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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If you\u2019re curious to see what the new Education Lab looks like, be sure to watch the video!<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

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