SoTL project on impact of the dark season on student learning experiences in UNIS: highlights and recommendations

The objective of this report is to understand how the dark season is influencing student learning at the University Centre in Svalbard. This project is led by a group of four researchers, taking part in the Collegial Teaching in Learning in STEM Education course (MNPED660) through the University of Bergen. To understand the impact of the Svalbard dark season on student learning, we conducted a focus group discussion-based study. Here, we provide a synoptic summary and highlight from this study. To conclude, we provide three main recommendations for the University Centre in Svalbard to facilitate the learning process during the dark season: (1) take the dark season into account in course structure and schedule, (2) provide information to students about the dark season and adaptation methods, and (3) make indoor spaces accessible to students for prolonged periods during the dark season.