Vroege ontwikkeling

Course goals

Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

• apply evaluation and reflection skills to translate feedback from both peers and instructors into concrete developmental goals that support continued learning during and after the course;
• utilise evaluation and reflection skills to provide constructive “tops and tips” feedback to peers, enabling them to formulate their own developmental goals;
• apply knowledge of the top ten collaboration skills to foster an effective and supportive learning environment for themselves and their peers;
• employ reading strategies, the empirical cycle, search strategies, and debating skills to systematically collect, organise, and critically evaluate relevant information. These competencies are used during each teaching session to identify the essential foundational knowledge required to clearly communicate the core message to a fellow student.

Course-Specific Learning Outcomes (Early Development)
Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to be able to:

• explain the cell biological, physiological, and genetic processes underlying fertility and embryogenesis to a fellow student;
• identify and explain the fundamental principles of normal mammalian embryonic development and apply this knowledge to basic problem-based questions;
• demonstrate understanding of the processes underlying fertility, fertilisation, and embryonic development, including the importance of appropriate timing, and apply this understanding in addressing basic problem-based questions.

Content

The course Early Development constitutes the first substantive introduction to the Bachelor’s programme in Care, Health and Society (ZGS). This course provides foundational insight into the cell biological, physiological, and genetic processes underlying fertility and early embryonic development.
Over recent decades, the possibilities for medically assisted reproduction—such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination, and embryo selection—have expanded considerably. These technologies may offer solutions for involuntary childlessness and can also be applied, under specific medical indications, to prevent the transmission of genetic disorders.
Looking ahead, techniques such as cloning and germline therapy may become more widely applicable, provided that technical challenges and associated health risks are adequately addressed and that appropriate legal and regulatory frameworks are established. These developments raise important questions regarding the extent to which human life can be shaped and influenced. This represents one of the central themes explored in the course, which aims not only to foster subject-specific knowledge but also to encourage critical reflection on the broader societal and scientific implications.
Note
Participation in educational activities other than guest lectures may be mandatory for eligibility for assessment on specific components. Students are advised to consult the study guide and the relevant descriptions of assessment components for further details.