PhD Seminar on Mathematics and Science Education (4 ECTS)

Course introduction

The PhD seminar aims to support your research in mathematics and science education. It focuses primarily on enhancing your understanding of theories and on how to use and position theoretical frameworks within your PhD studies and research projects. This includes addressing topics such as connecting different theories within a multi-theoretical framework, navigating the interplay between theory and practice, positioning yourself theoretically, and justifying theoretical choices.

The seminar will be organized as a problem-oriented and challenge-based learning process that encourages active and reflective participation. Activities will include preparatory reading, lectures, student presentations, group work, and knowledge sharing. In addition, the seminar will broaden both theoretical and practical perspectives on mathematics and science education, curriculum design, and pedagogical research. A selection of classical readings will be recommended to all participants prior to the seminar to support the learning objectives.

The seminar is structured into three sections (totalling approximately 40 working hours):

1. One day of individual preparatory reading.
2. Three days of in-person teaching.
3. One day dedicated to sharing learning outcomes, reflections, and evaluation.

Expected learning outcome

You will gain insight into classic as well as current research on mathematics and science education. You will be able to reflect on how the seminar learning experience contributes to the use of theories in the overall research design in your PhD project. It is a requirement that individual learning outcomes are shared with all participants in oral presentations.