To make your look at Dalarna University more differential, we prepared short interviews.
First, with Anita Purcell Sjölund, lecturer at Dalarna University.
Budding Borlnge: What is your
style of teaching?
APS: It is something
could be called experiential method learning. And basically it is where you
learn by doing. And another style is problem based learning. Where through
activities you are presented with the problem and through activities you work
to solve the problem. So I am putting the theory into practice. The ideal is
not to teach you the theory in seminars, in the sense that I would stand in
lecture. But to put the material up before the seminar, so that you could read
that. And then come to seminar and do
activities so that you can practice the theory and find the advantages and
disadvantages of the theory. So it is
problem based learning and experiential learning methods.
The thing with
tourism course is that a lot of it is some communication techniques,
presentation and so on. I can stand there and teach the theory of communication
but then it wouldn’t be effective. So in another words, it is combination of
going through the theory in the seminar and then doing communication technique
exercises and so on. So it is a lot of fun, I think. Because personally in my
thoughts learning should be fun. But hopefully in that you learn a few things
about the techniques and the theory as well. And I found that when we do
activities people are able to laugh at themselves, laugh at other people and
have fun. And actually learn a lot more than just sit at seminar and just have
somebody to give you a PowerPoint presentation, for example. So that I do is, I
have a theoretical part and then we do activities and discuss the theory. And I
think, hopefully, students get to learn a little bit about communication and
group work and how to work with teams.
BB: Why students
should come to Dalarna University?
APS:It is a small
university and that is one of the advantages. The classes are quite small, even
the lecturers are small compare to other university. You have a feeling of the
one on one relationship with your lecturer that you wouldn’t get in the bigger
university. For example if you were sitting in the lecture hall with 50-60 students
or even 100 students, you don’t have that kind of relationship. I think because
this university is focused on small lectures and seminar groups, so students
feel that we are putting into practice what we are learning and they build the
relationship with the lecturer. It is a lot of because of the size. Small size works in this advantage, but at
the same time there are disadvantages to be in small university. But if you are
here for a different type of learning experience and I think Dalarna University
could do that. Over the years that I have taught, the majority of students come
away discovering things about themselves. They learnt to come out and try new
things. They are not afraid to try new things because they do them in the seminars
and nobody is going to criticize them. The thing is if you can break out of
yourself and do things like that, then it makes a lot easier for you to be more
confident in your professional life as well. So I think it is what students
find in a small university, that it builds their confidence. It is really
important to build confidence. So in that case students should come to Dalarna University
for a different learning experience.
Autumn in Borlange |
We also asked international students from Dalarna University, Campus Borlange - Helena from Poland, Pavla and Zuzana from Czech Republic and Adeline from France.
BB: Why did you choose Dalarna University?
Helena: Finland and Sweden have very good educational systems, one of the best in the world. Secondly, it was my dream to go to Scandinavia, to practice english and learn some swedish.
Pavla: Because I wanted to practice English and it is known
that English is at a high level in Northern Europe. Then, I wanted to
see Scandinavian landscape on my own. And Dalarna University is only
university in Scandinavia, which has an agreement with our department of
geography.
Zuzana: I chose Dalarna, because I wanted to go studying to
Sweden and I had 2 opportunities here. One was in Kristianstad on the
south of Sweden and second one in Borlange. I chose Dalarna, because I
wanted to travel to north to Lapland and from here it is closer :)
Adeline: I have always be fascinated by Scandinavia and Northern Europe countries. Living and studying in Sweden was one of my dreams. And these countries are well known for their good education system. Dalarna University has an exchange agreement with my university back in France so... Here I am !
Adeline: I have always be fascinated by Scandinavia and Northern Europe countries. Living and studying in Sweden was one of my dreams. And these countries are well known for their good education system. Dalarna University has an exchange agreement with my university back in France so... Here I am !
BB: So what do you think, are your expectations fulfilled?
H: Completely yes! Without taking into account problems connected with moving here (like too many things to bring, etc.). Normally, I also study in international environment so it was not a problem for me to make a change.
P: It is quite short time to judge, but teachers are
friendly and very good at English, lectures are interesting and
countryside is really beautiful.
Z: My expectations are more than fulfilled.
If you mean only about school, I experienced another type of education,
because in my country, we spent way more time in school and we have
almost no homework.
And If you meant gererally, I met here a lot of nice people, with them I
have more in common that at home. I also realized, that I can easily
live alone in foreign country. And I broaden my horizons. Now the world
looks smaller for me. And impossible things are becoming possible.
A: The system is quite different here, so it took me some time to adapt. But now, I feel very good in my new environment. Our courses are interesting and I got to meet and work with amazing people. Everyone seems friendly and open-minded. Studying here is an experience I do not regret.
A: The system is quite different here, so it took me some time to adapt. But now, I feel very good in my new environment. Our courses are interesting and I got to meet and work with amazing people. Everyone seems friendly and open-minded. Studying here is an experience I do not regret.