SINCOE Pilot Description

During the three-year SINCOE project, three pilot rounds have been carried out in which HE teachers have had the opportunity to research, develop and innovate pedagogical solutions and test targets related to the identification, assessment and development of innovation competences in various authentic onsite and online learning environments. The selection and focus areas of the pilots have been based on the results of the project’s needs analysis. Wherein eight key challenges were identified, including e.g., adapting to new online methods and strategies, motivating the use of innovation competences, updating digital skills, and creating activating and interactive learning environments, comprehensive course designing and efficient assessment methods. 

The aim of the SINCOE project has been to create better understanding and practical methods, tools and implementations for these eight challenges through 25 different pilots. During the project, more than 600 students from different fields, study years and backgrounds and 20 HE teachers from project organisations have participated in the pilots. These pilots have also been as a usable platform for, assessment tool, training package and toolbox, for testing and content creation. 

All the teachers’ observations and experiences have been documented and reflected. Based on them case examples are written. These cases serve as practical examples of different pedagogical solutions for different stages of pedagogical planning. These descriptions not only describe and concretize the diverse activities of the SINCOE project, but also hopefully serve as a source of inspiration for other HE teachers who are interested in the topic and who would like new ideas, methods, tools and tips for identifying, assessing and developing their students’ innovation competences.  

 All 25 different practical case examples, as well as learning activities and recommendation and tips based on them, are presented in the toolbox. Check out the versatile contents of the toolkit here and adapt them to suit your own teaching.  

 SINCOE Case Studies Overview 

The SINCOE project documented multiple case studies showcasing various approaches to innovation competence development, including: 

• Project-based learning assessment 
• Critical thinking development 
• Team competencies enhancement 
• Self-assessment implementations 
• Student motivation strategies 
• Innovation and entrepreneurial skills development 
• Course design with innovation competencies 
• Tutoring and feedback methods 

These case studies serve as valuable reference material and inspiration for educators aiming to integrate innovation competence development into their teaching practices. Based on selected pilots, the SINCOE case examples provide a comprehensive overview of ongoing higher education studies, covering a broad range of working environments to ensure diverse findings and conclusions. 

The case examples are categorized by: 

• Level of Degree: Master, Bachelor, Other (continuous learning MOOC) 
• Type of Learners: Focus groups such as later-year students, newcomers, experienced adults, and different learner personas 
• Field of Study 
• Course Implementation: Hybrid, Online, part of the course, Other 

These categories encompass various learning environments and aims, including working life studies and subject-specific courses. The ”Type of Learners” category considers individual personal qualities, using the ”persona” exercise to empathize with students as individuals. 

Special attention was given to areas identified in the need analysis, such as: 

• Network technologies 
• Student motivation 
• Active learning methods 
• Atmosphere 
• Uniformity of etiquette & online standards 
• Individual factors 

The main results of the need analysis guided the selection of case examples, focusing on: 

• Adapting to new online education methods and strategies 
• Understanding and motivating the use of innovation competencies 
• Updating skill requirements and supporting new digital competencies 
• Activating learning and teaching methods to engage students 
• Efficient assessment methods and tools 
• Creating an interactive and friendly atmosphere 
• Comprehensive course design integrating innovation competencies 
• Efficient technical solutions, including equal technical conditions and improved usability of the SINCOE@ tool