Bits of Innovation: the story behind the Grassroots grant
The video series Bits of Innovation: the story behind the Grassroots grant follows three UvA teachers who want to improve education with the help of a UvA TLC Grassroots grant. The three-part interview series provides a snapshot of the start, middle and final phases of the Grassroots project. With what idea and expectation do faculty start the Grassroots Project? How do these ideas develop over the course of the project? And what impact does their project ultimately have on their teaching? Dive into the world of cockroaches, pulling teeth and social city maps and get an impression of how Grassroots grant can work out.
The Grassroots grant is a UvA TLC Education grant issued to UvA teachers who have an idea to use an ICT application to innovate education.
Project-Based Learning - Marlies Oostland
| Starting the Grassrootsproject | Halfway through the Grassrootsproject | Reflecting on the Grassrootsproject | ||
Disclaimer: The video mentions research on living cockroaches. Want to know more? View the Animal Testing Act (Dutch)
Dr. Marlies Oostland is associate professor in Cellular and Circuit Neuroscience. She has been working at the UvA in the Faculty of Sciences (FNWI) since September 2022. She previously published several studies on mouse neurophysiology. She received a Grassroots grant to develop the third-year elective course Psychobiology: From Neuron to Behavior.
Within this course, students will use new technologies to research the nervous system and behavior of living cockroaches. In the interview series, Marlies enthusiastically takes us into her field and emphasizes the importance of students gaining hands-on experience. And that is something that is not always obvious within existing education. She talks enthusiastically about her innovation ‘Project-Based Learning in vivo neurophysiology and behavior of cockroaches’. She describes how the implementation went in the classroom and proudly shares images that the students made themselves. She also talks about how to move forward with her project and emphasizes the social value of this education. In the final interview, she reflects on the project and the future of this innovation for education.
Force Feedback in Tooth Extraction Education - Tom van Riet
| Starting the Grassrootsproject | Halfway through the Grassrootsproject | Reflecting on the Grassrootsproject | ||
Dr. T. (Tom) van Riet is a lecturer at the Faculty of Dentistry (ACTA) and an MKA surgeon at AmsterdamUMC. In addition, Tom is a PhD candidate with his dissertation Learning about Tooth Removal with Robot Technology. With his Grassroots grant obtained, he is building on this and developing technology that allows dental students to practice tooth extraction before they complete their studies. In practice, these students often begin their careers without experience and confidence in tooth extraction.
Never before have dental students been able to practice tooth extraction on practice models. Tom has now made this possible with his project “Force Feedback in Tooth Extraction Education”. He explains in the videos why this groundbreaking teaching is only possible with interfaculty and collegiate collaboration and how this way of teaching allows him to make his students more confident.
Social Determinants of Health - Jeanine Suurmond
| Starting the Grassrootsproject | Halfway through the Grassrootsproject | Reflecting on the Grassrootsproject | ||
Dr. Jeanine Suurmond was associate professor in “Diversity responsive health care practices” at the Faculty of Medicine at Amsterdam UMC. Here she also fulfilled the important role of diversity officer. Jeanine devoted herself to making the necessary medical care accessible to everyone. Around the world, but also in a city like Amsterdam, minority groups do not always have access to the necessary medical care. Jeanine wants to address this in part by making her students aware of these issues. Therefore, she is using the Grassroots grant to develop a social map of the city of Amsterdam.
This map allows students and medics to see how social determinants (such as the neighborhood you live in) affect people’s health. It provides a handle for students and medics to reflect on how they can take these social determinants into account when providing care. Jeanine takes you through her project ‘Social determinants of health: an interactive map of Amsterdam’ using a prototype. In this way, she shows once again why it is so important to consider social aspects in health care and why students should create awareness of existing social differences during their education. She talks candidly about how she tries to avoid stereotyping and how her personal circumstances influenced her during the Grassroots project.
For more information and questions about the Grassroots grant, you may also contact the coordinator Sjoukje Kerman.
For more information on grant holder Marlies Oostland, check out her UvA profile.
For more information about grant holder Tom van Riet, please visit the AmsterdamUMC website.
For more information about grant holder Jeanine Suurmond, please visit the AmsterdamUMC website.