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The Importance of Evidence-Based Enhancement of the Quality of Learning and Teaching in Research-Intensive Universities

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Strengthening Teaching and Learning in Research Universities

Abstract

This chapter explores the role of research in improving teaching and learning in research-intensive universities. Over the past decades, there has been a notable increase in the number of studies investigating college-level teaching and learning, both in general and in specific disciplines. Pedagogical practice no longer has to be based on anecdote or intuition. Empirical evidence can inform instructions about methods that lead to better learning. The chapter presents four cases studies from the University of Helsinki and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that describe how careful research into pedagogy contributed to improvements in educational practice in those two universities. The chapter concludes with observations about the role educational research can play in how faculty can make informed and strategic decisions about teaching and learning.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for University Teaching and Learning (HYPE), Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 9, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Sari Lindblom-Ylänne

  2. MIT, Sloan School of Management, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, E62-339, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Lori Breslow

Authors
  1. Sari Lindblom-Ylänne
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  2. Lori Breslow
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Correspondence to Sari Lindblom-Ylänne .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Bjørn Stensaker

  2. CETL, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

    Grahame T. Bilbow

  3. Sloan School of Management, MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Lori Breslow

  4. Department of Education, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Rob van der Vaart

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Lindblom-Ylänne, S., Breslow, L. (2017). The Importance of Evidence-Based Enhancement of the Quality of Learning and Teaching in Research-Intensive Universities. In: Stensaker, B., Bilbow, G., Breslow, L., van der Vaart, R. (eds) Strengthening Teaching and Learning in Research Universities. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56499-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56499-9_8

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-56498-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-56499-9

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