Research-Guided Teaching Practices

Abstract

Introduction In this chapter we introduce threshold concept theory and present the case for its use in curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment in engineering education, as an example of how we might consider using theory to develop practice. The process has been developed and tested in engineering at The University of Western Australia, with collaborators at the Universities of Oxford and Birmingham and The University of Queensland. We begin with an introduction to threshold concept theory. We then step through the stages of curriculum design using threshold concepts. At each stage, the approach, critical issues that must be considered, and examples are discussed. Threshold concept theory is a major new theory in higher education, first developed in the United Kingdom by Jan (Erik) Meyer, Ray Land, and others (Meyer & Land, 2003). The theory developed from a large research program in which it was noted that for many disciplines there are concepts, or ways of thinking, that are transformative, opening up new ways of thinking and understanding, yet troublesome for many students (Meyer & Land, 2003). These are “threshold concepts.”