We are currently analysing the first batch of our interviews to present at the University of Edinburgh Learning and Teaching Conference next week. One thing we have been looking at is what the academics we have interviewed do to help students engage with wicked problems. There are lots of rich examples of exciting teaching methods.
Quite a few of our teachers talked about learning experiences where students learn to value diverse perspectives. So valuing other students’ perspectives, perspectives from other academic disciplines and perspectives from outside academia.
There was also lots of emphasis on ‘authentic’ learning experiences where students worked together on real world messy problems.
Our discussions with these teachers also brought up their consideration for students’ feelings. They talked about helping students stay hopeful or supporting students to come to terms with their feelings about wicked problems.
I found it interesting how a staff member shared that teachers should consider that these messy real-world problems could affect the students more emotionally. It was suggested that the teachers should perhaps consider potential aftercare in the form of student counselling, helplines or specific resources.