CBL Pedagogy

Challenges are a powerful tool for education and a strong experience for students’ engagement. They provide an incentive to dive in a vertical issue, enhancing 21st century skills.

3 sizes of challenges

Challenges offered by ECIU University and School of Innovation, can be Nano, Mini or Standard and differ in four key dimensions:

Duration and workload

Level of engagement that is the starting when student teams enter challenge

Level of investigation that is the level of research and variety of activities to find a solution

Level of action that is the way to open the findings for society

Student-centered approach

Challenges are co-designed with learners (students and challenge providers) considering:

  • The learning process for all
  • The learning outcomes for students
  • The challenge providers’ needs
  • Innovative methods and tools
  • Formats (hackathons, competitions, design projects, formal course, etc.)
  • Number of credits
Nano
  • 1 ECTS
  • 1-2 days
  • (part of a) Challenge
  • Solution
  • Idea for further Steps
  • Guiding questions
  • Guiding activities and resources
  • Analisys

Specific content, area or skill

Mini
  • 3 ECTS
  • 1-4 weeks
  • Essential questions
  • (part of a) Challenge
  • Solution
  • Implementation
  • Guiding questions
  • Guiding activities and resources
  • Analisys

+ gain in depth subject area knowledge

Standard
  • 6 ECTS
  • 3-6 months
  • Big idea
  • Essential questions
  • Challenge
  • Solution
  • Implementation
  • Evaluation and Publishing
  • Guiding questions
  • Guiding activities and resources
  • Analisys

+ collaboration in all phases

21st century competences

Links and additional resources on Challenge-Based Learning
Informative videos about Challenge-Based Learning