A co-created learning process in a doctoral seminar.

Abstract

This article describes the co-created educational process used within a vulnerable populations doctoral seminar. The objective of this seminar was to integrate students' knowledge of vulnerable populations for the purpose of developing their program of research. Because this was the first cohort to enroll in the course, the process used to ultimately achieve the objective was flexible. This flexibility, combined with a professor who approached teaching from a philosophy of partnership, resulted in the creation of an especially mutual, intensive, and innovative learning environment. A collaborative scholarly paper, which transcended the seminar's objective, emerged from the students' enthusiasm with the learning process. The success of this learning process challenges doctoral faculty to consider how knowledge-building through mutual partnerships with doctoral students can be integrated into existing learning environments.