Ela Sjølie

Ela Sjølie is a Professor of Education at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, NTNU. She leads the Experts in Teamwork (EiT) research group, focusing on teaching and learning in higher education, particularly collaborative learning, interdisciplinary teamwork, and practice theory. Her career includes roles as Associate Professor at NTNU (2017–2023), PhD research on teacher learning (2009–2014), and prior experience in software development and surgical tool research at Sintef and GE Vingmed.

Education:

• PhD in Education, NTNU (2014)
• MSc in Electrical Engineering, Universität Karlsruhe (1997)

Research Interests: Her work centers on active learning strategies, collaborative pedagogies, and the application of practice theory to academic practices. She explores how interdisciplinary teamwork can enhance professional learning and has led international projects on virtual team dynamics and educational praxis during crises like the pandemic.

Outreach & Engagement: Ela has presented at global conferences (e.g., ECER, AERA) and contributed to policy discussions on digital learning environments. She co-authored books on practice architecture frameworks and advises on educational reforms, including the role of communication in teacher training.

Labs/Teams: Head of the Experts in Teamwork (EiT) group, which develops interventions for collaborative skill training and virtual team facilitation in higher education.