Student engagement

Teaching academics and university staff address what student engagement means to them and offer advice on capturing students’ attention in an age of digital distraction and keeping them motivated to learn. Find insights on teaching strategies that give students agency over their learning, boost class attendance and participation and help to build a campus community.

By kiera.obrien , 22 September, 2026

The balancing act involved in teaching a class of mixed-ability students

An illustration of a figure balancing on a tightrope

Have you faced a situation where half of your class are subject-matter experts, and the other half are absolute beginners? Find practical strategies for bringing novices up to speed while keeping experts motivated

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 21 September, 2026

Make tech work in large online courses

A student on a zoom call in her home office

Students on large online courses can sometimes feel like a face among the crowd. Keep them engaged with interactive activities such as digital escape rooms or business simulators

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 21 September, 2026

Three lessons that outreach can teach us about enriching our own work

University staff clasp hands in a show of solidarity

University staff can benefit from outreach as much as its participants. Oliver Rossetti explores three principles that can drive positive change within institutions, as well as beyond

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien , 17 September, 2026

Bring open science into the classroom

To truly change science, the next generation of researchers must understand not only open science practices but also the values behind them. Find three ways to introduce them to students

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 15 September, 2026

Memorable teaching doesn’t just transfer knowledge – it transforms perspective

Architecture students inspecting plans on a board

Educators may often ask themselves how to make teaching more engaging. A better question is how to create learning experiences that fundamentally change the way students think

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 10 September, 2026

Want industry speakers? Get them in early

Guest speakers offer an informed, personal perspective on their discipline and a chance for learners to make an in-person connection that a recording cannot replicate. Here’s how to maximise the benefits and get students to turn up

By Laura.Duckett , 7 September, 2026

Design learning experiences students cannot outsource to AI

A good class creates a sequence of mental events that cannot be outsourced: prediction, surprise, judgement, revision and retrieval, writes Emilia Samit

Reading time

1minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 5 September, 2026

To stop students procrastinating, collaborate with them

Young male student looking at phone while putting off study

To help students start academic work on time, educators can use an approach that both guides them and pushes them to manage their own journeys

By Laura.Duckett , 4 September, 2026

You only get one first class of term – make it count

A professor explaining course structure to a class full of students, some of whom have their hands raised

How to create a positive first impression and transform the first class from a passive briefing to an interactive launchpad for learning

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 3 September, 2026

How document-grounded AI can support inclusive learning

Male student working at laptop surrounded by images of documents

When educators restrict an AI model to a defined collection of trusted inputs, they can introduce students to academic materials in a flexible and interactive way. Here, Imran Khan shares five practical insights

Reading time

4minutes

Student engagement