The SaP framework is built on the idea that students can work collaboratively with faculty as co-creators through contribution to curriculum development, co-designing and assessing assignments, giving feedback on teaching methods, with the intention to level the power relationship between students and faculty. However, implementing SaP can be challenging for faculty as institutional constraints in higher education limit the extent to which students can be involved in pedagogical processes, especially when curricular frameworks are structured around university policies and guidelines. This study demonstrates that courses with an overseas study trip component offer affordances for SaP implementation. Taking the example of such courses offered in a residential college in Singapore, we argue that intentionally involving students in the practical aspects of trip planning provide opportunities for them to gain agency in decision-making and ownership over the course. Subsequently, the development of interpersonal and technical skills through their participation in various tasks ranging from planning the itinerary, coordinating community partner engagements to managing finances throughout the trip enable students to proactively collaborate with faculty. This experience creates the space for self-directed learning empowering students to engage meaningfully with course content. Drawing on qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with faculty leading these courses, focus group discussions and survey responses from students who have participated in at least one study trip, this poster will highlight how students’ involvement in practical aspects of such courses provides an avenue to integrate the SaP framework while enhancing course learning outcomes.

Authors:
Angie Tan, National University of Singapore, Singapore
Lavanya Balachandran, National University of Singapore, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Lavanya Balachandran is a senior lecturer at the College of Alice & Peter Tan, National University of Singapore (NUS). Her teaching and research focus on social inequality, family, crime as well as learning pedagogies and community engagement.

Additional website of interest
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lavanya-balachandran-b4a255154/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Tuesday Schedule

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