From surface learning to deep engagement - Using content tasks as a university teacher
How can university teachers design learning activities before and during seminars which encourage students’ deep cognitive engagement with course materials?
Welcome to this workshop on content tasks – a structured, research-informed approach to designing learning in higher education. The workshop is aimed at university staff who want to further develop their seminar practice and strengthen student engagement and boosting learning outcomes.
Content tasks are carefully designed activities that require students to select, sort, and organize key ideas found in course content, in order to produce an outcome which reflects their understanding. They support deeper cognitive engagement, critical thinking, and more productive seminar discussions. The focus is on creating purposeful tasks that actively engage students with disciplinary content both in the preparation stage and during seminars. By working with content tasks students are guided to think beyond the surface level, and encouraged to analyse, reflect on, and apply course material in ways that promote deeper understanding.
Key concepts for content tasks include: depth of processing, collaborative learning, task-based language teaching, self-determination theory
About the workshop
The workshop combines theoretical input with practical application. Participants will:
- gain an introduction to content tasks and the pedagogical principles behind them
- explore examples from different disciplines
- analyse and reflect on their own teaching
- develop or refine tasks for their own courses
- discuss how tasks can be used before and during seminars
The workshop also includes opportunities for collegial exchange across disciplines.
After the workshop, you will:
- have a clearer understanding of how task design influences student learning
- feel more confident designing structured learning activities
- have concrete ideas ready to use in your teaching
- gain new perspectives on supporting active and deep student engagement
The workshop is led by Oliver Smith and Per Wennlund from the Department of Teaching and Learning. The workshop is held in English.
Preparations and literature
Read the following article: Willingham, D. T. (2008). What will improve a student’s memory. American Educator, 32(4), 17-25.
Registration
The workshop is aimed at all teaching staff and educational managers, regardless of subject affiliation, at Stockholm University. Participation is free of charge. Book your place in good time, as places are limited. First come, first served is applied.
Organizer is the Centre for the Advancement of University Teaching (CeUL). CeUL offers workshops on a variety of teaching and learning topics with the aim to support and stimulate engaging and high-quality teaching at all levels at Stockholm University.
The workshop offers an opportunity to explore and develop academic teaching skills.
Last updated: 2026-06-10
Source: Department of Education