Dr Duco van Oostrum

Duco van Oostrum

Dr Duco van Oostrum, Academic Fellow, CILASS
BA (Central Washington University), Drs (University of Groningen), PhD (Rice University)
0114 2228468
Email: d.oostrum@sheffield.ac.uk

As Academic Fellow in CILASS, I have a dual role as researcher of Inquiry-Based Learning in my own discipline area and in educational development within the University and beyond through participation in CILASS activities and events. I was a member of the illustrious CILASS bid development team in 2004-05 and have witnessed how the shared passion about teaching in Higher Education by academics and administrators has evolved into the reality of CILASS.

I am the token academic on the Team, making sure that any pedagogical theoretical meanderings find a home in the practice of teaching in a research-led institution. My interest in Inquiry-Based Learning stems from the classroom, where I´ve always sought for student activity and inquiry as a methodology to teaching my subject discipline, English and American literature. As soon as the technology became available for use it in addition to classroom activity, I´ve been interested in finding ways of expanding the traditional seminar and lecture delivery. I´ve been particularly engaged in using bulletin board facilities, WebCT delivery (design and functionality), and integrating library resources (digitization of key primary and secondary texts). The virtual experience ought to have a grounding in the real world, however, and I usually appreciate any excuse for `field trips´ or real life visitors, such as tall American basketball players to illustrate the concept of Hoop Dreams to my American sport literature students. In the School of English, I am currently Chair of Teaching Committee.

Together with Dr Richard Steadman-Jones, I am currently leading an interdisciplinary learning/teaching project, entitled 'Roots Routes' and supported by CILASS; in the School of English I received a University of Sheffield Senate Award for Teaching in 2003.

From the onset to now, CILASS literally has given space to the passion for Teaching. The Collaboratory in Bartolomé House offers a glimpse of the ideal University classroom and there´s no doubt that the Information Commons will build on this experience. It´s a privilege to be part of this vision.