Thesis circle
Encyclopedia
A thesis circle involves a number of students and at least one professor
, lecturer
or instructor who collaborate in supervising and coaching final (undergraduate or MSc
) projects. This tool for supervising students working on their thesis, also known as "thesis rings", was developed in the 1990s at Maastricht University.
(e.g. draft chapters). The professor brings his/her disciplinary expertise and knowledge
into the meetings of the thesis circle.
An important characteristic of thesis circles is the principle of switching roles: students participating in thesis circles frequently switch between their role as writer of a thesis (final project) and their role as co-supervisor of the other students in the circle. This mechanism serves to accelerate and deepen learning
on key issues and challenges encountered in doing a final project (Romme & Nijhuis, 2000). In an educational sense, thesis circles are a particular form of collaborative learning
, inspired by the sociocratic circular approach
(Romme, 1999; 2003) as well as Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development
.
Thesis circles appear to have a positive effect on both the quality of the supervision process and the performance of the students involved (Rompa & Romme, 2001; Romme, 2003). For example, a former participant in a thesis circle at Tilburg University observed that "the concept of a master thesis circle is an excellent idea to promote feedback among students and thus create a truly collaborative environment" (source).
A study of a large number of thesis circles set up at Tilburg University (Damen, 2007) concluded that many circles accomplished a particular culture
of reflective (i.e. non-rhetorical) questioning
and dialogue
. Damen (2007) also found that the supervision style of the professor
has a strong impact on whether this culture of reflection comes about. In thesis circles with a coaching
rather than instruction oriented supervisor, more reflective questioning and dialogue was observed. Furthermore, reflective questioning among thesis circle members was found to substantively affect the appearance of complex, so-called multi-perspective cognitive outcomes (Suedfeld et al., 1992; Curşeu and Rus, 2005). Moreover, Damen (2007) observed that students with a stronger need for cognition
(Cacioppo et al., 1996) and more openness to experience
(McCrae & Costa Jr., 1997) also appear to engage more in reflection. Finally, reflective questioning in thesis circles turned out to contribute directly to group cognition, and over time tends to raise higher expectations among thesis circle members with regard to cognitive and learning outcomes (Damen, 2007).
Thesis circles have been set up, for example, in Maastricht University, Tilburg University, University of Utrecht, Eindhoven University of Technology
, Open University of the Netherlands
, University of Twente, Rotterdam School of Management
and Fontys University of Applied Sciences
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
or instructor who collaborate in supervising and coaching final (undergraduate or MSc
MSC
- Computers:* Mario Strikers Charged* Microsoft Common Console Document, file for the Microsoft Management Console* Microelectronics Support Centre* Microsoft Corporation* MIDI Show Control* Message Sequence Chart...
) projects. This tool for supervising students working on their thesis, also known as "thesis rings", was developed in the 1990s at Maastricht University.
Overview
Participants in a thesis circle meet regularly to discuss the progress of work on (mostly individual) final projects. Students are in charge of planning and chairing the sessions as well as managing and distributing informationInformation
Information in its most restricted technical sense is a message or collection of messages that consists of an ordered sequence of symbols, or it is the meaning that can be interpreted from such a message or collection of messages. Information can be recorded or transmitted. It can be recorded as...
(e.g. draft chapters). The professor brings his/her disciplinary expertise and knowledge
Knowledge
Knowledge is a familiarity with someone or something unknown, which can include information, facts, descriptions, or skills acquired through experience or education. It can refer to the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject...
into the meetings of the thesis circle.
An important characteristic of thesis circles is the principle of switching roles: students participating in thesis circles frequently switch between their role as writer of a thesis (final project) and their role as co-supervisor of the other students in the circle. This mechanism serves to accelerate and deepen learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
on key issues and challenges encountered in doing a final project (Romme & Nijhuis, 2000). In an educational sense, thesis circles are a particular form of collaborative learning
Collaborative learning
Collaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together. Unlike individual learning, people engaged in collaborative learning capitalize on one another’s resources and skills...
, inspired by the sociocratic circular approach
Sociocracy
Sociocracy is a system of governance, using consent-based decision making among equivalent individuals and an organizational structure based on cybernetic principles...
(Romme, 1999; 2003) as well as Vygotsky's theory of the zone of proximal development
Zone of proximal development
“The zone of proximal development defines functions that have not matured yet, but are in a process of maturing. The zone of proximal development , often abbreviated ZPD, is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help...
.
Thesis circles appear to have a positive effect on both the quality of the supervision process and the performance of the students involved (Rompa & Romme, 2001; Romme, 2003). For example, a former participant in a thesis circle at Tilburg University observed that "the concept of a master thesis circle is an excellent idea to promote feedback among students and thus create a truly collaborative environment" (source).
A study of a large number of thesis circles set up at Tilburg University (Damen, 2007) concluded that many circles accomplished a particular culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
of reflective (i.e. non-rhetorical) questioning
Questioning
Questioning is a major form of human thought and interpersonal communication. The thinker employs a series of questions to explore an issue, an idea or something intriguing...
and dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
. Damen (2007) also found that the supervision style of the professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
has a strong impact on whether this culture of reflection comes about. In thesis circles with a coaching
Coaching
Coaching, with a professional coach, is the practice of supporting an individual, referred to as the client or mentee or coachee, through the process of achieving a specific personal or professional result....
rather than instruction oriented supervisor, more reflective questioning and dialogue was observed. Furthermore, reflective questioning among thesis circle members was found to substantively affect the appearance of complex, so-called multi-perspective cognitive outcomes (Suedfeld et al., 1992; Curşeu and Rus, 2005). Moreover, Damen (2007) observed that students with a stronger need for cognition
Need for cognition
The need for cognition, in psychology, is a personality variable reflecting the extent to which people engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activities....
(Cacioppo et al., 1996) and more openness to experience
Openness to experience
Openness to experience is one of the domains which are used to describe human personality in the Five Factor Model Openness involves active imagination, aesthetic sensitivity, attentiveness to inner feelings, preference for variety, and intellectual curiosity. A great deal of psychometric research...
(McCrae & Costa Jr., 1997) also appear to engage more in reflection. Finally, reflective questioning in thesis circles turned out to contribute directly to group cognition, and over time tends to raise higher expectations among thesis circle members with regard to cognitive and learning outcomes (Damen, 2007).
Thesis circles have been set up, for example, in Maastricht University, Tilburg University, University of Utrecht, Eindhoven University of Technology
Eindhoven University of Technology
The ' is a university of technology located in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The motto of the university is: Mens agitat molem . The university was the second of its kind in the Netherlands, only Delft University of Technology existed previously. Until mid-1980 it was known as the...
, Open University of the Netherlands
Open University (Netherlands)
The Open Universiteit Nederland is a Dutch university or institution for distance learning for higher education at university level . This means that students do not attend classes but study at home...
, University of Twente, Rotterdam School of Management
Rotterdam School of Management
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University is the international business school of the Erasmus University Rotterdam located in Rotterdam, Netherlands...
and Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
Fontys University of Applied Sciences is a Dutch vocational university with several campuses located in the souther Netherlands. It offers 200 bachelor and master programs in the fields of technology, economics, social work, health care and teacher training...
.
See also
- Collaborative learningCollaborative learningCollaborative learning is a situation in which two or more people learn or attempt to learn something together. Unlike individual learning, people engaged in collaborative learning capitalize on one another’s resources and skills...
- Zone of proximal developmentZone of proximal development“The zone of proximal development defines functions that have not matured yet, but are in a process of maturing. The zone of proximal development , often abbreviated ZPD, is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help...
- SociocracySociocracySociocracy is a system of governance, using consent-based decision making among equivalent individuals and an organizational structure based on cybernetic principles...
- Need for cognitionNeed for cognitionThe need for cognition, in psychology, is a personality variable reflecting the extent to which people engage in and enjoy effortful cognitive activities....
Further reading
- Cacioppo, J. T., Petty, R. E., Feinstein, J. A., and W. B. G. Jarvis (1996). Dispositional differences in cognitive motivation: The life and times of individuals varying in need for cognition. Psychological Bulletin, 119(2): 197-253.
- Curşeu, P. L. and D. Rus (2005). The cognitive complexity of groups: A critical look at team cognition research. Cognitie, Creier, Comportament, Decembrie 2005: 681-710.
- Damen, I. C. M. (2007). Making pictures in front of a mirror: A cognitive perspective on reflection in learning, Dissertation Tilburg University, Ridderkerk: Ridderprint.
- McCrae, R. R. and P. T. Costa Jr. (1997). Personality trait structure as a human universal. American Psychologist, 52(5): 509-516.
- Romme, A.G.L.Georges RommeA. Georges L. Romme is a Dutch organizational theorist and professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Eindhoven University of Technology.- Biography :...
en J. Nijhuis, Samenwerkend Leren in Afstudeerkringen, Groningen: Wolters-Noordhoff, 2000. English translation: Collaborative Learning in Thesis Rings - Romme, A.G.L.Georges RommeA. Georges L. Romme is a Dutch organizational theorist and professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Eindhoven University of Technology.- Biography :...
, Redistributing power in the classroom: the missing link in problem-based learning. In: J. Hommes, P.K. Keizer, M. Pettigrew & J. Troy (eds.), Learning in a Changing Environment, p. 109-126. Dordrecht-London-Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1999. - Romme, A.G.L.Georges RommeA. Georges L. Romme is a Dutch organizational theorist and professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Eindhoven University of Technology.- Biography :...
, Organizing education by drawing on organization studies. Organization Studies, vol. 24 (2003): 697-720. - Rompa, R.M.G. & A.G.L. RommeGeorges RommeA. Georges L. Romme is a Dutch organizational theorist and professor of entrepreneurship and innovation at the Eindhoven University of Technology.- Biography :...
, Kwaliteit van samenwerking en leerprestaties in afstudeerkringen. Pedagogische Studiën, vol. 78 (2001), nr. 5: 298-312. - Suedfeld, P., Tetlock, P. E. and S. Streufert (1992). Conceptual/integrative complexity. In: Smith, C. P., Motivation and personality: Handbook of thematic content analysis, Cambridge, Cambridge University press.