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 miranda.prynne , 19 July, 2021

Pandemic teaching: storm clouds and silver linings

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

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

By miranda.prynne , 16 July, 2021

Group work: improving communication, participation and dynamics

Advice on methods that help improve group dynamics by encouraging communication

Improving participation and communication among student peers facilitates more effective group work. Jonathan Sim offers three methods

Reading time

4minutes

By sara.custer , 16 July, 2021

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

A woman communicates with classmates in a synchronous remote classroom

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

By miranda.prynne , 12 July, 2021

Monitoring student engagement via online teaching tools

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

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

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 9 July, 2021

Government needs to step up in the student retention battle

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

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

Reading time

4minutes

By dene.mullen , 28 June, 2021

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

By dene.mullen , 25 June, 2021

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

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

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

By dene.mullen , 23 June, 2021

Don’t downplay the role of community colleges in healing a nation

The role of the community college should not be underestimated in terms of providing civil discourse and education opportunities

At a time of rampant disinformation, these two-year institutions can be the engines of enquiry and purpose that enable the next generation to rebuild our democracy, says Eduardo Padron

Reading time

4minutes

By miranda.prynne , 10 June, 2021

How to design unforgettable class activities that help students learn better

Designing teaching activities which trigger an emotional response making key lessons easier to remember

These teaching techniques are designed to pique students’ emotions and lodge key lessons more firmly in their memories

By dene.mullen , 10 June, 2021

Let’s stop confusing what just happened with true online learning

We must stop confusing the emergency use online learning we've been relying on during the pandemic with real, well-designed online learning

During the pandemic, decades of research and practice were tossed aside in a matter of days, says Ali Carr-Chellman

Student engagement