Embedding student engagement in practice

Reflection prompts, tips for practice, introductory resources, and case studies.


Course Design

  • Active learning: active learning is an approach to learning and teaching that seeks to center the student learning experience by creating opportunities for students to actively engage in their learning and reflect upon their experiences. Evidence has shown that this type of learning and teaching leads to a range of positive outcomes for learners (Prince, 2004).
  • Flipped learning: flipped learning is a commonly adopted active learning approach. It aims to create deeper levels of engagement by asking students to engage with course materials in advance, and using class time for in-depth discussions.
  • The co-creation section of these pages has tips on how to co-create learning and teaching with students, and the benefits this has for engagement.

Learning activities

Below are some simple ways to engage students in large lectures, each with an illustrative case study:

Assessment

  • Reflection toolkit: One of the best ways of assessing the extent to which students have engaged in their own learning is through reflection. The reflection toolkit provides a useful overview of how (and when) to assess using reflection.

Active learning

  • Research summary 1: Freeman et al (2014) (1 page): In 2014, Freeman and colleagues published an important and highly cited review of STEM research into the effectiveness of active learning. This paper highlighted the significant benefits to students from active learning.
  • This short video (5 mins) from MIT provides an overview of active learning and its effectiveness.

Flipped classroom

  • This 1 minute video from the Centre for Teaching and Learning at the University of Texas provides a brief overview of a flipped classroom.

From students to scientists: The impact of interactive engagement in lectures

"The three main techniques used throughout the course were standard lecturing, interactive “Top Hat” questions, and the novel “Quecture” lecture format. In short, a quecture is a variant of the flipped classroom model where time is built in during the lecture for students to formulate and discuss their own questions, which are then addressed via a personal response system."

Teaching at scale: Improving student engagement through Quectures

"First, the knowledge content is divided between provision before and during the lecture, reducing the task of preparation and allowing for the introduction of more difficult concepts during traditional lecturing. Second, (and crucially) students are invited to formulate and discuss their own questions relevant to each learning objective, by being asked to “think, type, then talk” at set points during the lecture. This mimics the peer instruction technique yet, using a text entry personal response system, allows for discussion and re-visiting of the students’ own questions during and between lectures."

Sparking online joy: Five ways to keep students engaged

"If students are asked to reflect on their own personal experiences and the course materials evoke emotions, they’re much more likely to have a meaningful experience overall. To do this, include real-world examples, stories and case studies from a range of contexts so that students can put the learning into their own contexts, allowing them to connect more deeply with it. Speaking to your students’ emotions is generally considered to be one of the most effective ways to stimulate engagement."


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