Teaching that strengthens students’ wellbeing, motivation and learning

 Understanding Students’ Study Experiences and Their Sense of Integration Through Reflection Exercises and Relation
Natasha Marie Hansen, Teaching assistant in Zoology and teacher in Study introduction for Biology, 2025Reflections that help students to understand and value their own learning situation
Natasha will share how she used three reflections exercises in her teaching through the first semester to support students in their transition to university. Through these exercises, the students gained a stronger understanding of what it means to study at the university, increased students’ awareness of their own abilities, and how students learned to take pride in their personal growth. This provided valuable insights into their transition, well-being, and overall learning process, including positive observations of presence in the next semester.

Fostering sustained motivation and self-efficacy in STEM education
by Madalina Jäger, Postdoctoral researcher at FNUG, SDUWe often see the grades, but we rarely see the journeyIn this talk, I will present key findings from the "My competence portfolio" (KP) evaluation to illustrate how students’ confidence, motivation, and stress levels evolve throughout the semester across various STEM subjects. By examining these trajectories, we gain a deeper understanding of students' lived experiences and the factors impacting their wellbeing.
I will then translate the core principles of Self-Determination Theory (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) into practical, evidence-based strategies. You will leave with a toolkit of small, realistic changes designed to strengthen student engagement and sustained motivation across all STEM disciplines.