World-grant Signature Pedagogy
To achieve Michigan State University’s goal of becoming the model for land-grant education in the 21st century, we must define what a world-grant education looks like.
At MSU, we are well on our way to developing a signature pedagogy for a world-grant university. Signature pedagogy, a term borrowed from professional education, signifies an approach to teaching that marries content and methodology in ways unique to the profession, introduces students to the profession, and enriches the tradition within that profession. Central to any signature pedagogy is an approach that requires students to be engaged, visible, and accountable.
A Legacy of Engaged Learning
We’ve always been committed to the idea that students learn better when they’re active and engaged. In 1855, our founders envisioned and built what was needed to make active and engaged learning possible. The land-grant approach to education—focusing on the practical application of knowledge in combination with liberal learning—diverged radically from previous educational models. This bold, new model, pioneered at MSU, was rapidly adopted by many and has since become recognizable as central to the mission and core values of land-grant universities.
