Jelle Hilbers ontvangt Universitaire Onderwijsprijs voor junior docent van het jaar
Jelle Hilbers ontvangt Universitaire Onderwijsprijs voor junior docent van het jaar

Programming: you can't make it easier, but you can make it more fun

Research news item

As a student, environmental scientist Jelle Hilbers sometimes had lecturers who literally read out the text from the sheet they were showing on a slide projector. Now that he is a lecturer himself, Hilbers takes a more innovative approach to teaching and inspiring his students. This year, he received one of the University Education Awards. "As scientists, we read each other's papers. Let's also watch each other's lectures more often to learn from each other.“

A large part of Hilber's work revolves around programming. As a environmental scientist, he builds large models to map animal populations and discover which factors can predict the extinction of animal species and populations (groups within species). “We want to discover how human influence, for example through land use, contributes to species extinction. We are also investigating what measures can help reverse the trend of species extinction.”

At the same time, Hilbers teaches students the basics of the programming language R. What started as an elective course for biology students has now become a popular course that runs throughout the academic year and attracts students from other faculties and PhD students. “We build models to study animal species and biodiversity, but you can analyse all kinds of data. What's more, programming is a skill that will serve you well after your studies. In fact, more and more job vacancies are looking for people who can program.”

Jelle Hilbers

Not just for biologists

But how do you make a biology course appealing to students from other programmes, such as psychology? “No student who starts programming does so because they enjoy it, but mainly because they want to learn a useful skill.” To ensure that students don't drop out, Hilbers looked for a way to make programming more interactive and fun.

With the help of a Comenius grant and in collaboration with the Teaching Information Point, Radboud Educational Clips and the Radboud Creative Collective, Hilbers developed digital escape rooms. “In the story, a student has gone missing and, in order to find them, students have to try to track them down on campus and in the city by completing programming assignments.” The first students are expected to start using the escape rooms in September.

Hilbers has good reason to devote so much attention to new forms of education. “I am convinced that teachers can make a big difference. That's why I hope to give lectures that are not only educational but also fun and inspiring, and thus make an impact as a teacher.”

Reading from the projector

Hilbers himself learned from both positive and negative examples. “The fun, enthusiastic lecturers stick in your mind, but I also remember a lecturer who displayed a page full of text on a projector and then literally read it out loud. You quickly lose your attention that way. And precisely because attention is easily lost, I try to make my teaching more interactive.” Hilbers has a tip for colleagues who manage to find a gap in their busy schedules. “We read each other's papers, but let's also drop in on each other's lectures more often to learn from each other.”

Hilbers considers receiving this year's talent award – one of the University Teaching Awards – a great honour, but he was even prouder of his nomination. “Ultimately, a jury awards the prize, but students nominate you. The fact that they thought I was worthy of nomination feels like a wonderful recognition and appreciation of my work.”

It is therefore no surprise that Hilbers has ambitions in both research and teaching. “My main goal is to make an impact. I can do that by researching the causes of and solutions to declining biodiversity, but also by inspiring students and teaching them skills that will be useful to them in their careers.”

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Education