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Addressing potential challenges in co-creating learning and teaching: overcoming resistance, navigating institutional norms and ensuring inclusivity in student–staff partnerships

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Abstract

Against a backdrop of rising interest in students becoming partners in learning and teaching in higher education, this paper begins by exploring the relationships between student engagement, co-creation and student–staff partnership before providing a typology of the roles students can assume in working collaboratively with staff. Acknowledging that co-creating learning and teaching is not straightforward, a set of examples from higher education institutions in Europe and North America illustrates some important challenges that can arise during co-creation. These examples also provide the basis for suggestions regarding how such challenges might be resolved or re-envisaged as opportunities for more meaningful collaboration. The challenges are presented under three headings: resistance to co-creation; navigating institutional structures, practices and norms; and establishing an inclusive co-creation approach. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of transparency within co-creation approaches and of changing mindsets about the potential opportunities and institutional benefits of staff and students co-creating learning and teaching.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Development Unit, Learning and Teaching Centre, University of Glasgow, Southpark House, 64 Southpark Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8LB, Scotland, UK

    C. Bovill

  2. The Teaching and Learning Institute, Bryn Mawr College, Bettws-y-Coed, 101 North Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010 2899, USA

    A. Cook-Sather

  3. Center for Engaged Learning, Elon University, Belk Pavilion – Teaching and Learning 101, 2610 Campus Box, Elon, NC, 27244, USA

    P. Felten

  4. Centre for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching, Birmingham City University, City North Campus, Birmingham, B42 4SU, UK

    L. Millard

  5. School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    N. Moore-Cherry

Authors
  1. C. Bovill
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  2. A. Cook-Sather
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  3. P. Felten
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  4. L. Millard
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  5. N. Moore-Cherry
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Correspondence to C. Bovill.

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Bovill, C., Cook-Sather, A., Felten, P. et al. Addressing potential challenges in co-creating learning and teaching: overcoming resistance, navigating institutional norms and ensuring inclusivity in student–staff partnerships. High Educ 71, 195–208 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9896-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-015-9896-4

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