Change Labs: ‘Redesigning your course from scratch is inspiring – like working with a blank canvas’
This academic year saw the start of the Change Lab(oratory) project. Teaching staff from various departments worked on innovations in their master's courses: 'It’s a privilege to improve your teaching and get so many useful tips in the process.'
The degree programmes taught at Leiden Law School are constantly evolving. Besides the extensive changes to the curriculum of the bachelor's degree in Law, various ways are being considered to introduce changes to courses in the master's degree programmes of Law, Tax Law and Law & Society. From 2022 to 2024, the 'Flipping the classroom' project took place in which four courses in the master's programme in Law explored how students can acquire in-depth knowledge more effectively while acquiring a better grasp of legal skills. The principles of blended learning and flipping the classroom (text in Dutch) formed the core of this project.
Change Labs
The Change Labs took place in the spring of academic year 2024-2025. The aim was to improve education in the participating courses and to build on insights gained from the ‘Flipping the classroom’ project. In this way, the Change Labs offer teaching staff an opportunity to reflect on their own teaching methods and to adjust these where necessary. In doing so, they can take critically examine the current design of their course.
A Change Lab consists of four sessions, spread over several months. During these sessions, teaching staff, together with students, analyse the challenges within their course, develop new teaching methods and implement improvements. Would you like to learn more about the methods behind the project and the seven principles for redesigning a course? Visit the LTC Hub for more information (text in Dutch).
Creature of habit
Barend Barentsen, Professor of Labour Law, took part in the most recent Change Lab: ‘I’ve been working at the faculty for quite a long time and then you run the risk of teaching on automatic pilot. As a creature of habit, it’s good to try something different every now and then and to challenge yourself.’ Marije Schneider, who shares an office with Barentsen, inspired him to take part in the project. ‘She’d already done a Change Lab and was really enthusiastic about it. I noticed the improvements she’d made to her course’, says the professor. ‘So, I decided to take part because I also teach a course that I thought could do with improving.’
According to the professor, the project is not about 'innovating for the sake of innovating'. During the various sessions, the participating teaching staff and students are encouraged to actively engage in dialogue and take a critical look at each other's course designs. 'It’s fun and you learn a lot from thinking seriously with colleagues and students about the principles of designing education,' says Barentsen. 'You’re free to experiment without being judged. Plus, you’re totally free to disagree with each other.'
Educational background
‘I found it very inspiring to design your own course again from scratch’, says associate professor Gitta Veldt. ‘It was great to learn about the principles behind the Change Lab so that I can make education more active and inspiring and I’ll definitely use it in my teaching from now on.’ Assistant professor Bastiaan van Ganzen adds: ‘I found working together and having a conversation about education very useful. It’s also nice that you’re given feedback on the spot and can learn from practical examples.'
The project was also a valuable experience for the students who took part. ‘I found it interesting to get a look behind the scenes to see how your own education is designed’, says Inez Hendriks. ‘As a student, it’s nice to see how much effort the teaching staff put in for the benefit of students. It’s good to see that connection’, adds Tahmina Azizi. ‘I’m pleasantly surprised about how much fun this was.’
Barentsen thinks that it would be good if all teaching staff took part in a Change Lab: ‘Even if you think your courses are going well and getting good evaluations, it’s still useful to take part. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to work with a small group of people and to receive so many valuable tips.’
Sign up for the 2nd series of the Change Lab
Change Labs are open to Course Coordinators who teach master’s courses or teaching staff who do not have a coordinating role, but are allowed to make changes to their course. If you are interested, please sign up before 26 January 2026 by sending an email to Project Coordinator Arjen de Vetten (a.j.de.vetten@iclon.leidenuniv.nl).
Short introduction meetings with those interested are planned for early in February to discuss mutual expectations and practical matters. The Change Lab series will take place from March/April.