About the Seminar Leader Role
As a seminar leader, you support and guide groups of students as they work together with course material.
The Role of the Seminar Leader
As a seminar leader, you will:
- create a safe and positive learning environment.
- help students feel socially and academically included.
- support students in working together on academic tasks and content by facilitating group work, dialogue and discussion.
- plan meaningful sessions based on tasks provided by the course coordinator.
Administrative Procedures
As a seminar leader, you should be familiar with some administrative procedures. Below, you will find a selection of useful resources. However, please note that you are not responsible for answering administrative questions about deadlines, course registration, extensions or similar matters. Instead, refer students to the right contact point: SV-info for undergraduate students, or their department or centre for master's students.
- Changing seminar groups in bachelor's-level courses at the Faculty of Social Sciences: Seminar group changes are handled by the administration. Refer all questions about changing seminar groups to SV-info or this webpage.
- Absence from compulsory activities at the Faculty of Social Sciences.
- Accommodations during studies and exam accommodations.
- Report concerns about the learning environment and Speak up!: Things may happen during teaching sessions, or students may tell you about experiences they have had. It is therefore important that you know about the Speak Up system.
- For questions about attendance registration, contact your department.
Department-Specific Resources [in Norwegian]
Relevant Literature
- What the Student Does: Teaching for Enhanced Learning
- Structure Matters: Twenty-One Teaching Strategies to Promote Student Engagement and Cultivate Classroom Equity
- Challenging Facing PBL Tutors: Twelve Tips for Successful Group Facilitation
- Becoming a Student in a PBL Course: Twelve Tips for Successful Group Discussion
Student Learning
Learning is a complex process. It can be supported in many ways through teaching, learning activities, collaboration and feedback. In this section, you will find resources that show how you, as a seminar leader, can support student learning and run successful seminar sessions.
- What is learning? – BetterTeaching (LINK)
- Supporting student learning – BetterTeaching (LINK)
- Seminar groups – KURT [in Norwegian]
Learning Environment and Setting Expectations
A positive learning environment is essential for student learning, and a sense of safety is its foundation. At your first meeting with the students, it is important to set clear expectations and begin building trust within the group. In this section, you will find resources to help you create and maintain an environment where students feel safe and included.
Setting Expectations as a Seminar Leader
Before meeting the students for the first time, take some time to reflect on the questions below. Clarifying your expectations of students is essential for creating a safe and predictable learning environment. Students also need clear expectations of you as their seminar leader—both what you expect from them and what they can expect from you.
- What do you expect from the students?
- What can they expect from you?
- How will you establish shared expectations for the group’s work?
- What will you do if participation does not meet these expectations?
Setting Expectations with Students
We encourage you to discuss expectations with students during the first seminar, using the questions below. First, let students discuss the questions in small groups, then share their ideas with the whole class. You may also create an agreement based on what you decide together. Everyone can sign it, and it can be published in Canvas. This may encourage continued participation and positive collaboration. After a few weeks, it may be useful to review the agreement together.
- What do you expect from the seminar leader?
- What do you expect from your fellow students?
- What can the seminar leader expect from you?
- What can your fellow students expect from you? What are you willing to contribute?
Learning Activities
Successful seminars give students opportunities to work with engaging questions and complex issues, both individually and together. In this section, you will find practical learning activities that you can use in your seminars.
Active Learning
Active learning encourages students to take an active role in their own learning. It differs from more traditional forms of teaching. Research clearly shows that we learn best when we actively work with course material. We develop a deeper understanding by explaining our own understanding, discussing ideas, applying knowledge to authentic tasks, trying, making mistakes and receiving feedback. There are many ways to create active learning in the classroom. Here, you will find examples of active learning activities.
Group Work
Group work is an important way of learning and can be organised in different ways. Here, you will find examples of how to organise group work.
Individual Work
Although group work is important, it can also be useful to set aside time for individual work. Here, you will find examples of how to organise individual activities.
Giving and Receiving Feedback
Feedback is essential for learning. We learn both by giving and receiving feedback, and seminars can be an important setting for this. Here, you will find tips on how to use feedback as a learning activity.
Digital Tools
- Everything a Political Science Student Needs to Know [in Norwegian]
- Canvas A–Z: Digital Course
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) at UiO
- Mentimeter
- Microsoft Whiteboard
- Samtavla (Talkwall)
Contact Points
- EILIN First-Line Support can help with questions about using IT and AV equipment in teaching. You can book training in the equipment available in seminar rooms.
- SV-info can help with administrative questions.
- Direct academic questions to the course coordinator or course instructor.