Skill Development through a Lead Example Driven Curriculum

Abstract

Observations made at the Ravensburg-Weingarten University (RWU), have shown that interdisciplinary students entering the first semester face major challenges, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. Field investigations have identified two significant indicators for these difficulties: abstract teaching contents and missing links to their later application.To overcome this, an interlinked curriculum was introduced at the RWU, where a "lead example" leads the teaching. The key objective is to improve the reflective, practice-and problem-oriented learning in order to strengthen the competencies of the students. To consolidate their understanding of the educational content, the "lead example" is integrated throughout several courses, depending on the lecture priorities. There is a continuous exchange between theoreticalknowledge teaching and problem-oriented learning, so that student motivation is improved, as well as, their ability to implement and reflect upon what they have learned in a more effective way.