Developing a learning centered model for designing and managing study programmes

Research on teaching and learning in higher education has first and foremost centered on individuals, i.e. students' and teachers' approaches to learning and teaching as well as methods (Entwistle, McCune, & Scheja, 2006; Entwistle & Peterson, 2004). As a consequence, concepts on how to improve and innovate education at higher education institutions (HEI) have stayed on the level of individual courses, trying to qualify teachers to implement new teaching and learning methods in their classrooms (Aineley, 2008, S. 619). Yet, there are both theoretical as well as practical reasons that argue for a broader perspective on learning processes and, as a consequence, reach beyond the course-level but focus on entire educational programmes instead: First, over the last thirty years or so, learning theories are increasingly stressing the importance of (a) social-material contexts (McInerney & van Etten, 2002) as well as (b) learners' subjective experiences. This suggests that a course of study be not regarded as a mere addition of more or less independent courses, but rather as a holistic learning experience. This includes the sum total of a student's educationally purposeful social-material interactions at a HEI both within and outside the classroom (cf. Hu & Kuh, 2002). A second, more practical reason why educational researchers and designers should take a closer look on the design of educational programmes lies in the Bologna process: The introduction of the European Credit Transfer System as well as the tow-tiered study structure force HEI to systematically craft their programmes' internal structure. Due to the fact that there are virtually no pedagogical concepts concerning the design of study programmes, these design processes have so far been dominated by administrative considerations, largely neglecting students' experiences within the programme structures (Winter, 2009; Hildbrand, Tremp, Jäger & Tückmantel, 2008). Thus, it can be concluded that there is a lack of knowledge on how distinctive design features of study programmes (1) are perceived by students and (2) impact on their action strategies concerning for example the selection of learning activities, the attribution of resources for learning, and social interactions with their peers.