Student engagement

Academics and university staff address what student engagement means to them and offer advice on boosting attendance, class participation and building a campus community.

Universal design for learning is a key framework for equity, diversity and inclusion among students in university settings

The case for using universal design for learning at your institution

Universal design for learning can be the answer when searching for true equity in our universities. Jacqui Whittle and Caroline Pike outline the how and why

Jacqui Whittle, Caroline Pike

Arden University

Making connections online is incredibly important for student motivation in universities

Top tips for establishing close relationships with students online

The quality of the connection between teachers and their charges is a true learning booster for students and can become a source of well-being for teachers, too

Rebeca Elizabeth Alvarado Ramírez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Advice on applying user experience thinking to enhancing your student services in teaching and on campus

Are you optimising the user experience for your students?

Kevin Curtis provides an introduction to simple user experience (UX) techniques that can help when considering how students and staff engage with higher education services and their campus surroundings

Kevin Curtis

The University of Portsmouth

International team of people sitting around table, putting colourful puzzles together

How to enhance students’ participation in teamwork that is not assessed

Rebecca Wang outlines a learning structure that supports students who are new to team-based research projects

Rebecca Wang

University of Westminster

Synchronous or asynchronous university lectures are not the issue if students aren't focusing on either of them particularly well

We need to move beyond the synchronous versus asynchronous debate

Academics are agonising over the wrong elements of online education. They should be thinking about active versus passive learning, says Simon Chesterman

Simon Chesterman

National University of Singapore

Advice on breaking down student anonymity to build relationships when teaching online and in person

Unmasking the scientist: breaking down anonymity to build relationships when teaching online

Simple solutions to link students’ names to faces and build a rapport with individuals in your class when teaching online, by Kelly Edmunds and Bethan Gulliver

Kelly Edmunds , Bethan Gulliver

The University of East Anglia

Checklists are just one method by which university academics can encourage students to assess their own learning

How to plan an online learning-friendly assessment

Maribell Reyes explains how to create comprehensively designed learning assessment strategies for an online course

Maribell Reyes

Tecnológico de Monterrey

University students can benefit from immersive experiences such as carrying out real-life tasks in a virtual reality factory

Answering common questions about immersive experiences

Not sure about introducing extended reality? Gabriela Sánchez Castillo offers insights into developing immersive experiences that are useful for assessing real-world skills

Gabriela Sánchez Castillo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

The hologram professor project beams a life-sized video of university lecturers into classrooms

Missing face-to-face interaction? Try becoming a ‘hologram professor’

Beaming a hologram of lecturers into classrooms offers greater closeness than video systems, say Carla Victoria Ramírez López, Leticia Castaño Sánchez and Patricia Aldape Valdés

Carla Victoria Ramírez López , Leticia Castaño Sánchez , Patricia Aldape Valdés

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Giving university students word puzzles, quizzes and using games can be an excellent way for lecturers to engage them

Why interactive and game-based instruction beats lecturing every time

Going through the motions is easy for experienced lecturers, but we should all go the extra mile to make our classes interactive, challenging and fun, says Nancy Boury

Nancy Boury

Iowa State University

Using media such as Spotify or TikTok can help academics connect with university students

Ideas for using media to connect with students

Students need to be motivated and engaged to be successful, which is where podcasts, social media and music come in, say Esmeralda Niño-Perez and Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta

Esmeralda Niño-Perez , Angeles Carolina Aguirre-Acosta

Tecnológico de Monterrey

We know that university students want to learn together

Let’s harness students’ desire for interaction to define the future of learning

We know that students want to learn together. That information should underpin how we allocate resources to best serve their needs, say Derfel Owen and Ant Bagshaw

Derfel Owen, Ant Bagshaw

UCL, Online Education Services

Santa goes online. But university students and staff seem to be conflating online and blended learning, when they are two separate entities

My Christmas wish? Wider recognition that blended is different from online

Following two years of disruption and jumping between modes of delivery, many students and staff seem to be – incorrectly – conflating blended with online, says Harriet Dunbar-Morris

Harriet Dunbar-Morris

The University of Portsmouth

Large amounts of data can now be collected on students in order to help improve their learning outcomes

Collecting data on our students is the only way forward

Ubiquitous data collection will give rise to large datasets, which can help improve outcomes for all students – especially those most in need, says Daphne Koller

Daphne Koller

Stanford University

Advice on developing students' identities as learners rather than consumers of their higher education

Building student identities as learners, not consumers, for better academic outcomes

Students who think and act like consumers have worse academic outcomes, research shows. Louise Taylor Bunce shares practical steps to help build students’ identities as learners rather than as consumers of education

Louise Taylor Bunce

Oxford Brookes University

Tips for university academics on how to transition to hybrid teaching

Ten useful tips for teaching a hybrid course for the first time

Laura Patricia Zepeda Orantes shares recommendations for delivering hybrid courses, especially for teachers who are new to this way of working

Laura Patricia Zepeda Orantes

Tecnológico de Monterrey

Perfectionism has long been an affliction in academia for students and faculty alike

It’s time to tackle perfectionism head-on in the classroom

Perfectionism has long been the norm in academia. To combat it, we must offer help before it has to be asked for, say Laura March and Maggie Melo

Laura March, Maggie Melo

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Universities can learn a great deal from the way Amazon embraced digital tech and constantly evolves

What can universities learn from Amazon?

From putting the customer first to the buzzword that is ‘fulfilment’, there’s much to be gleaned from the way Amazon and its ilk embraced digital technology, says Peter Vervest

Peter Vervest

Erasmus University Rotterdam

Enabling innovation to flourish in the online and blended learning space

From medicine to business, digital platforms enhance the learning experience for students

insendi

insendi

University lecturers should use reverse grading to turn the grading process on its head

Turn the marking process on its head by using ‘reverse grading’

Davita Günbay explains how reversing the narrative between ‘what I got’ and ‘what I was given’ can help learners engage and take responsibility for their learning

Davita Günbay

Near East University

Young African women wearing headphones in a university cafe - reconnecting after the pandemic

Reopening and reconnecting: how to establish connection with first-years studying in the new normal

Agnes Chikonzo offers three key ways that university services can engage students and give them a sense of belonging back on campus

Agnes Chikonzo

The University of Zimbabwe

Profound learning can be a revolution for your university

Classes need less focus on employability and more on profound learning

Classes are sometimes the least transformative elements of what students experience at university. We need to change that, say Davin Carr-Chellman, Ali Carr-Chellman and Michael Kroth

Davin Carr-Chellman , Ali Carr-Chellman, Michael Kroth

University of Dayton, University of Idaho

How to be comfortable with uncomfortable conversations

Ruth Woodfield outlines steps that academics, students and university staff can take to support and work through the discomfort of difficult discussions

Ruth Woodfield

University of St Andrews

Advice on creating equitable pathways to better engage all students regardless of background or prior knowledge

Co-creation and empowerment: pathways to better student engagement

Effective approaches universities can take to promote equity and improve student learning outcomes and employability, shared by a team from the University of Salford

Sara Namvar, David Greensmith, Niroshini Nirmalan

University of Salford

Watch parties are a variation on the flipped learning model used in universities

In praise of the ‘watch party’ – an update to the flipped learning model

Many new students struggle with the amount of self-directed learning at university. Perhaps it’s time to introduce watch parties, say Emily Nordmann and Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel

Emily Nordmann, Carolina Kuepper-Tetzel

University of Glasgow

Universities are creating pre-prepared, fully complete courses called shells

How I stopped worrying and learned to embrace pre-prepared courses

I was shocked when first told I had to teach a ‘shell’ prepared by a colleague a few years ago, but I’m actually growing from the experience, says George Justice

George Justice

Arizona State University

Advice on why and how to build a sense of identity and belonging among students for better learning outcomes

Building identity and belonging among students

Proactively building students’ sense of identity and belonging is vital for positive learning outcomes, explains Blake McKimmie. In this video, he gives advice on how it can be achieved

Blake McKimmie

The University of Queensland

Research backed advice on managing different national cultures to encourage engagement with learning technology

How does national culture affect the adoption of learning technology?

Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang and Maria Limniou offer tips to counter the hidden cultural and social factors that reduce acceptance of virtual learning environments, based on their research

Na Li, Xiaojun Zhang, Maria Limniou

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

How to ensure online teaching benefits the education of sustainability issues

Engaging students in applied research to tackle Sustainable Development Goals

Jen O’Brien describes a pedagogical project that engages students in applied research carried out in partnership with external organisations, related to the Sustainable Development Goals

Jen O'Brien

The University of Manchester

In the new normal we might forget the technology and focus on motivating human beings again

Forget the tech – in the new normal, let’s focus on human beings

The key to making learning effective, now and in the post-pandemic world, is focusing on motivation, says Grace McCarthy

Grace McCarthy

University of Wollongong

Webinar discussion how to reduce student drop out rates in the context of the pandemic and online learning

Capturing students’ attention in the classroom: does listening equal learning?

Four teaching academics discuss effective approaches to keeping students focused and engaged inside and outside the classroom

Flower Darby, Steven Mintz, Kara Monroe, Constanza Pacher

Northern Arizona University, University of Texas at Austin, Ivy Tech Community College, MacEwan University

Advice on why and how to use podcasts to supplement your online teaching

Listen to this! Using podcasts for online learning

Emily O’Reilly explains why and how to use educational podcasts to supplement your online teaching

Emily O'Reilly

The University of Edinburgh

Advice on using popular social media platforms to support your university teaching and academic research

Fake news, educated views and how-tos: social media for teaching and research

Terese Bird shares her ideas on how to use some of the most popular social media platforms to support your teaching and research

Terese Bird

University of Leicester

Advice on explaining to students why they should keep their cameras on during online classes

Stay in the frame: how to persuade students to keep cameras on in lessons

Paul Moss shares advice on how to convince students that making themselves visible during online classes is in their own interest and will aid learning outcomes

Paul Moss

Adelaide University

A lecturer speaks to university students, but what is the role of the lecture in modern HE?

What is the purpose of a university lecture?

We must continue to question the true role of the lecture and how lecture recordings fit in to the effective delivery of higher education, says Jill MacKay

Jill MacKay

The University of Edinburgh

Students need effective information, advice and guidance to make informed post-18 decisions

Targeted advice and guidance is crucial for widening participation

Especially post-Covid, pupils need a strong foundation that prepares them for future post-18 decisions

Billy Huband-Thompson

Centre for Education and Youth

Advice on providing comprehensive support for remote students through academic advising

Building a community of support for remote students through academic advising

Janet Morrison details academic advising strategies that keep students feeling connected and supported throughout their educational journeys when learning online

Janet Morrison

Champlain College Online

The word ‘play’ and a downward arrow in neon

Ready, player one? How video games can help engage students

Engaging, rewarding and a great way to encourage active participation, games are a brilliant addition to a teaching and learning environment, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

A laptop, coffee and apple depict an unrealistic working from home set-up

Let’s embrace flexible learning as much as we have flexible working

Much like working from home, remote teaching and learning come with a range of benefits to learners if we just make room for them

Matt Jenner

FutureLearn

Three tips for making instructional videos that support better student engagement

Three video techniques for increasing student engagement

Joe Arton shares three evidence-based techniques for creating teaching and learning videos that will improve student engagement and learning outcomes

Joe Arton

The University of Edinburgh

Construction workers huddled over plans represent universities laying foundational steps for online learning

The foundational steps needed to advance online higher education post-Covid

The will to evolve is essential, followed by a technology-led approach to pedagogy, student engagement and interactivity, says Steve Davies

Steve Davies

University of South Wales, Learna

Advice gleaned from a survey of students about what is needed for effective online teaching

What can we learn from students about online education?

Yidan Qin shares some key lessons from a survey of students regarding what is needed to make online teaching effective

Yidan Qin

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A student asleep on his laptop. Just because someone has logged into a class does not mean they have engaged with that class.

We shouldn’t confuse online engagement with logging in

When assessing the all-important ‘engagement’ metric, the sector often defaults to the crude measurement of attendance − which is clearly flawed, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Tips on how to engage students when your class is split between those studying in-person and those learning via zoom

How to engage students when some are in the room and some are on Zoom

Flower Darby offers practical tips for keeping all students engaged when teaching a class in which some students are with you in person and others are learning remotely via a teleconferencing platform

Flower Darby

Northern Arizona University

Advice on recognising the pros and cons of online teaching and what to bring forward after covid

Pandemic teaching: storm clouds and silver linings

Glenn Geher talks through the highs and lows of teaching during a pandemic and the lessons we can learn from them

Glenn Geher

State University of New York at New Paltz

A woman communicates with classmates in a synchronous remote classroom

Funny memes and other ways to encourage students to keep their cameras on

Frank R. Castelli offers advice from his evidenced-based strategy to get students to use their cameras without requiring it

Frank R. Castelli

Cornell University

Advice on using the VLE tools to monitor student engagement online and focus support efforts

Monitoring student engagement via online teaching tools

Maurice Kinsella and colleagues offer practical advice on using the virtual learning environment (VLE) tools to monitor student engagement and focus support efforts where they are needed

Maurice Kinsella, Niamh Nestor, John Wyatt

University College Dublin

Whitehall sign. The government needs to step up in the battle for student retention

Government needs to step up in the student retention battle

The higher education sector needs the resources to get better at spotting students at risk of falling behind or dropping out altogether, says John Couperthwaite

John Couperthwaite

Echo360

This is our chance to create the classroom of the future

This is our chance to create the classroom of the future

We know what works best for learning, and most of it is easier to implement in the online world, says Daphne Koller

Daphne Koller

Stanford University

Passing a note in class. The modern version might be sending an emoji to a friend, but these back channels of communication are crucial

We must encourage the art of passing (virtual) secret notes in class

Far from being unwanted classroom distractions, informal communications such as gifs, emojis and online chat can fulfil basic human needs, say Claire Kinsella and Linda Kaye

Claire Kinsella, Linda Kaye

University of Staffordshire, Edge Hill University

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