Courses

Courses of 60-90 ECTS-credits with a significant fraction delivered using Problem Based Learning methodology.

This method, PBL, was originally developed for medical schools[2] and has steadily spread in many areas during the last thirty years. It makes sense seen from research in psychology and cognition; the existing knowledge is activated, the learning is made with hooks to relevant scenarios and the students are made to elaborate with their acquired knowledge.

PBL trains for life long learning since the learning-context is stronger than in traditional courses, and the learning is therefore less vulnerable for the weakening of episodic memory with age. The method also trains to work in groups and in leading small groups. The process is very similar to research; an education through PBL therefore leads naturally into an activity of research.

The PBL-group should be 5-8 people since smaller groups result in lack of sufficient amount of ideas and suggestions, and larger groups result in that some members become inactive. The teacher closely follows the meetings with great attention, but in the background.

Each PBL-cycle (roughly 1.5 credits) follows the seven jumps structure[3]^,[4]:

            First meeting of about two hours
            The group is presented with a scenario/problem

1.      Clarify terms and concepts not readily comprehensible.

2.      Define the problem.

3.      Analyse the problem.

4.      Draw a systematic inventory of the explanations inferred from step 3.

5.      Formulate learning objectives.
A few days of studies and work

6.      Collect additional information outside the group.
Second meeting

7.      Synthesize and test the newly acquired information. A report is produced. The group evaluates how the work has gone and the meeting ends.

After 5-10 cycles, an independent examiner verifies the acquired skills and knowledge.

The learning in phase-1 roughly comprises 14 credits each of condensed matter physics, quantum mechanics and nuclear and particle physics. It also includes 5 credits each of mathematical and numerical methods, quantum field theory and instrumentation, and 3 credits on research ethics. However, when formulated as 40 PBL scenarios other subjects get drawn in as necessities to be able to understand, calculate and formulate actions.

For the ESRs deciding to enter theoretical physics, another 30 credits are added.