Item: EXPERTS IN TEAMWORK: A MASTER COURSE FOSTERING STUDENT CREATIVITY FOR MAKING SNOWY MOUNTAINS SAFE
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Title: EXPERTS IN TEAMWORK: A MASTER COURSE FOSTERING STUDENT CREATIVITY FOR MAKING SNOWY MOUNTAINS SAFE
Proceedings: International Snow Science Workshop 2024, Tromsø, Norway
Authors:
- Gerit Pfuhl [ Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology ] [ Center for Avalanche Research and Education, UiT The Arctic University of Norway ]
- Håvard Engen [ Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology ]
Date: 2024-09-23
Abstract: The interdisciplinary course “Experts in Teamwork” (EiT) is mandatory for most master students at NTNU. The aim of the course is twofold, one is to develop interpersonal and interdisciplinary collaboration and communication skills and the other to tackle a project with real-life societal challenges. The students can choose topics from society or academia from more than a hundred “villages” consisting of one academic staff member covering the specific field, two student assistants and up to 30 students. In 2023 and 2024 we offered the village “Safe touring in winter mountains” (“Snøskred på liv og død”). In the EiT course groups of students from different study programs (from engineering to marketing, from biology to water resource management) develop a product within the topic of the village. The students learn team skills and to reflect on various group work situations. In 2023, the first time we offered the “avalanche village” for the EiT-course, one group developed a database to record avalanche accidents by the victims. The focus was on user-friendliness and providing a knowledge resource for the community. Another group developed an ingenuous awareness campaign. In 2024, groups developed an inclinometer for skis; a push app to warn trespassers from entering run-out zones; a 3D touring map where the current avalanche warning of a planned trip is overlayed; a virtual game teaching basic snow factors; and a radio play combining pedagogical elements with entertainment. In other EiT villages ideas from the students have made it to the markets. Here, we present some of the ideas and projects from our students, and hope it stimulates further creativity and ingenuous solutions to make traveling on snowy mountains safe.
Object ID: ISSW2024_P13.1.pdf
Language of Article: English
Presenter(s): Gerit Pfuhl
Keywords: avalanche education, interdisciplinary, virtual game, awareness campaign, radio play
Page Number(s): 1724 - 1727
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