Real-world learning and contextualised learning are essential components of university studies that can significantly enhance students’ educational experiences and prepare them for the challenges of the real world. Real-world learning involves providing students with practical experiences that simulate real-world scenarios, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-life situations. Contextualised learning, on the other hand, involves embedding learning within a specific context, such as a specific industry or community, to enable students to understand the practical implications of their learning better.
By incorporating these approaches into coursework, faculty can help students develop skills that are highly valued by employers, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication. Moreover, these approaches can lead to increased student engagement and motivation, as students can see the relevance of what they are learning to their future careers and personal lives.
In this assignment example by Asst Prof Lisa Winstanley from the School of Art, Design and Media, students are tasked with creating data visualisation posters centred around a sustainability theme. These posters serve as “illustrated ‘imagined futures’ designed to educate and provide a vision of hope and positivity”. By using real data and focusing on real-world issues, students gain a deeper understanding of the importance of sustainability and are motivated to create illustrations with a strong sense of purpose. This approach not only fosters creativity and critical thinking skills but also prepares students to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
See more student works here: The Art of Sustainability: A Collaborative Student Project
How have you incorporated real-world/contextualised issues into your assignments to prepare students for the challenges they will face beyond the classroom? We would love to hear your examples! Please share them with us in the comments.
