Authentic learning for undergraduate students in a B2B context

• S. Filipe ^[1] ; I. Saur-Amaral ^[1]
  1. [1] Universidade de Aveiro

     Universidade de Aveiro

     Vera Cruz, Portugal

     
• Localización: EDULEARN22 Proceedings: 14th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (July 4th-6th, 2022, Palma, Spain) / coord. por Luis Gómez Chova, Agustín López Martínez, Joanna Lees, 2022, ISBN 978-84-09-42484-9, págs. 2585-2592
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen

  • Authentic learning experiences put students in a problem-solving environment which is close to the future professional context where they will be working in the future [1]. Incorporating this type of learning in curriculum design in higher education allows students to develop the complex knowledge structures related to an uncertain environment in a progressive way, with the support of their academic or professional tutors [2]. Notwithstanding the difficulties and barriers in its implementation, if properly managed and assessed along the way, it may be a positive experience for students and teachers [3]. Our research presents the results of an authentic learning project for undergraduate students, in a business to business (B2B) context, more specifically the case of the Information Technology (IT) cluster in Aveiro. The project was implemented between October 2021 and January 2022 with 93 undergraduate students from second and third year of the Bachelor in Marketing and Bachelor in Finance at University of Aveiro, which developed strategic plans and marketing plans for 20 companies belonging to the IT cluster in Aveiro. In November 2021, students had an initial presentation of the IT cluster by a director of the IT association Inovaria and then they interacted with firm representatives and made visits to some of the firms. Till January 2022, they developed their work with tutorial support from the four teachers involved in the project. End of January, they presented their works to the representatives of Inovaria and companies they studied. Benefits overseeded the barriers, yet some students would have preferred working with firms they could choose themselves and others could have preferred more clarity and certainty in the work to be developed, or a more regular follow up with representatives from the firms to get more data and ensure they were on the right track.