Skip to main content
Queen Mary Academy
  1. Queen Mary Academy
  2. Students
  3. Co-creation
  4. Why co-creation?

Why co-creation?

Why co-creation?

Dr Maria Romero-Gonzalez, Director of Education for SEMS; Director of Learning Development - Queen Mary Engineering School (QMES), Xi'an, China and Reader in Science & Engineering Education discusses the importance of co-creation.

Main benefits and challenges

For staff

Benefits

  • Enhanced reflective process about teaching and learning processes
  • Raised awareness of thinking about and practices of teaching
  • Raised self-awareness, and more knowledgeable and sensitive to respond to student learning needs
  • More culturally responsive and inclusive practices Leading to a shift in focus from grades to learning (co-created assessment)
  • Enhanced enthusiasm and motivation

Challenges   

  • Giving up control: need to redefine roles and responsibilities; threatened to give up control; feeling vulnerable within the institution
  • Scepticism that learners add value: not recognise value in learners’ input; not really listen and trust learners
  • Perceived threats of opening up for change: not be open for reflection and growth; difficulties with receiving feedback; stick to pedagogical habits
  • Usual way of communication no longer fits: challenge to find common ground; learners might be resistant to contribute; to much focus on negative issues
  • Lack of recognition and reward: prizes, awards, appraisals, probation, HEA fellowships, promotions and career progression

For students

Benefits

  • Enhanced motivation, confidence and enthusiasm
  • Enhanced responsibility for and ownership of own learning
  • Raised awareness of the learning and teaching processes
  • Development of metacognitive awareness and sense of identity
  • Development of critical thinking and a wide range of transferable skills
  • Enhanced belonging, relationships, confidence, and trust
  • Increased sense of feeling valued and practice at working democratically
  • Enhanced academic performance 

Challenges

  • Voice fatigue and feeling unheard: not involved in implementation, perceived lack of action, lack of sense of ownership
  • Trusting staff and other students
  • Lack of process and content expertise: unfamiliarity with new role and responsibility
  • Insecure about own knowledge and skills
  • Insufficient communication & collaboration skills
  • Power relations: perceived risks of speaking up; power imbalance through assessment
  • Harder to engage with large lectures
  • Harder for students who are more focused on what you have to learn to get a good grade (less intrinsic motivation to learn)
Back to top