Learning and Teaching Centre

Engaging and Supporting Students

Student engagement describes the extent to which students are committed and actively involved in their learning.  It is however, more than participation in classes or completion of work outside the classroom. Engagement can also refer to a sense of belonging fostered by such things as extra-curricular activities, and the blurring of the boundary between formal and informal student life. As such, we might seek ways in which the community of learners can be established around both co-curricular and extra-curricula activities.  This might be a simple as enabling students to work in groups or to feel part of an identifiable cohort.

Student engagement may vary over time and relative to experience, exposure and the student's position in the lifetime of their study.  It may be developmental.  It might be encouraged by negotiation and choice and involvement in significant pieces of work.  In any event it is important to attempt to diagnose the symptoms of student engagement (or alienation) and to act on that diagnosis.  Some principles that might promote student engagement are:

  • Good course design and organisation - in particular, provision that manages the needs and expectations of students;
  • Good teaching - that takes into account the emotional nature of study, the thresholds students need to negotiate, and promoting a sense of purpose and utility;
  • Understanding who our students are for better relationships - so we are aware of how engagement develops and how students might be alienated;
  • Collaborative and active learning - fostering opportunity, support and community;
  • Timely and effective feedback - especially peer to peer and that which promotes reflection by students on their studies;
  • Leadership for student engagement - so that we embed engagement issues into planning, strategy and educational development processes; and
  • Evaluation and review of engagement strategies - enabling year on year development.

References and useful links

Chickering, AW., & Gamson, ZF. (1987) 'Seven principles for good practice in undergraduate education' American Association of Higher Education Bulletin 1987, Vol. 39, No. 7, pp3-7, online at Principles for good practice (pdf file, 10 pages)

Krause K-L., Hartley R., James R. and McInnis C. (2005) The First Year Experience in Australian Universities: Findings from a decade of national studies Department of Education Science and Training and Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, online at First Year Experience (pdf file, 115 pages)

Krause, K-L. (2005) Understanding and Promoting Student Engagement in University Learning Communities Centre for the Study of Higher Education, University of Melbourne, online at Promoting Student Engagement (pdf file, 15 pages)

Learning and Teaching Centre (2008) Principles of Student Engagement

Markwell, D. (2007) 'The Challenge of Student Engagement', Key-note address - Teaching and Learning Forum 2007, University of Western Australia, 30-31 January 2007, online at Challenge of Student Engagement and available through lectopia.

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