6-year PhD position: Effective Alignment in Computer Science Curricula.

Functieomschrijving

Are you passionate about education and teaching? The Formal Methods and Tools (FMT) research group at the University of Twente has a vacancy for a visionary PhD student with a background in Computer Sciences and a special interest in teaching and testing methods.

Alignment in teaching refers to the triangle of content, teaching and testing modes: they should fit together. You cannot effectively teach Defense Against the Dark Arts without a wand, or test it effectively through a multiple choice form. Neither does it seem sensible to test programming skills through a hand-written test; yet that is often still what happens in Computer Science.

Lasting innovation is hampered by practical obstacles such as maintainability and scalability of the chosen forms. It occurs on the side of the students (in a programme with 200 students, extensive individual feedback may be infeasible) but also on the side of the teachers (a form that works due to the enthusiasm of its inventor may no longer be effective when that spark has died down or the course is taken over by a colleague).

On the whole, we can characterise Computer Science students on the one hand by a large degree of technical creativity and a drive to understand and control the working of (electronic) devices, and on the other hand by an inward rather than outward focus. These characteristics should be taken into account in the choice of teaching and testing methods in a Computer Science curriculum.

Functie-eisen

In this PhD position for 6 years, you will combine teaching with a research project in studying and developing aligned teaching and testing methods for Computer Science. This unique combination of tasks will give you ample opportunity to conduct experiments in the classroom. Concrete topics of study include, but are not limited to:

• Community-based learning
• Real-life-sized projects in the curriculum
• Automated assessment and feedback for programming
• Secure digital testing
• You have a Master degree in Computer Sciences
• You are passionate about teaching.

YOUR APPLICATION SHOULD INCLUDE

• A motivation letter describing why you would be a good fit for this position, and why you wish to embark on a PhD trajectory;
• Curriculum vitae, including university qualifications and grades;
• Email and telephone contact information of at least two referees (please notify them in advance that they might be contacted).

Please submit your application before August 1st 2018 (choose "apply here" below).

INFORMATION

For more information you can contact prof.dr.ir. A. Rensink, a.rensink@utwente.nl.

Arbeidsvoorwaarden

We offer a very challenging fulltime position for six years in an inspiring multidisciplinary and international environment. You will be part of a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda.

• Your starting salary is € 2.266,- in the first year and reaches € 3.173,- in the sixth year (gross per month);
• You will have excellent benefits in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO- NU), including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
• In our training program, you and your supervisor will make up a plan for additional suitable education and supervision;
• You will receive a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff;
• And ultimately, you will contribute to the improvement of our education within Computer Science and the university as a whole.