Enhancing “classroom engagement” is often discussed across higher education as in-person attendance continues to decline, especially after the pandemic. We understand that expectations have changed and we cannot go back to how students engaged pre-pandemic. However, the way we view and discuss “classroom participation” is not moving in the direction it should be.
Unpacking this terminology can help us rethink our provisions in a more dynamic and contemporary way. First, his four walls of the physical classroom should not be perceived as a vital space in which participation takes place. Instead, we should view this as one element among several learning spaces and opportunities we create to effectively deliver higher education.
Second, we need to reconceptualize the idea of encouraging student engagement. This concept can be somewhat misleading and tends to put pressure on teachers’ ability to effectively execute and deliver content in a compelling and entertaining manner. Instead, we propose to view engagement as the outcome of successful student-centered learning strategies. Engagement in this sense applies to the way students interact with materials and resources. their friends. teacher. Activities presented to them. Online and in-person learning environments. and the content covered.
Enabling classroom participation through student-centered learning
We can incorporate a variety of student-centered learning strategies to engage students holistically across all the learning spaces and opportunities we offer.
Here are five learner-focused ideas you can immediately incorporate into any educational environment.
1. Active learning
A surefire way to increase engagement is to integrate activities that encourage action. This means that students create, discuss, construct, research, create, and think critically in ways that demonstrate learning and application of course content. Examples include role-playing, presenting ideas, participating in discussions, and creating artifacts. Such active learning strategies are possible regardless of the physical classroom location or the number of students in the course. Expanding the notion of what a classroom means, digital tools can foster self-directed and peer learning through active, student-centered learning strategies. For example, you can encourage students to contribute to an online community glossary hosted on your learning platform and support each other in understanding and revising content. Again, groups of students can collaborate remotely to develop whole-class activities and role-playing scenarios and participate in module delivery.
2. Value student opinions about course content
Students become more interested and engaged when they can contribute meaningfully to the learning environment. Therefore, our role as teachers is to always show that our students are open to the idea of being co-producers of knowledge. Show curiosity and a willingness to learn from them. And give students the opportunity to personalize course content that enhances the learning experience for the entire class. This approach increases the variety of discussions and activities, allows students to shape their own learning, and ideally increases their sense of belonging within the class. This includes giving students the opportunity to teach module sessions, determining discussion topics and homework, and creating a flexible learning culture where the classroom can change based on student input and interests. may be included.
3. Incorporate ownership and ownership into evaluations
Students place great emphasis on assessment, and current educational culture positions assessment as a key element of learning. Considering this, evaluations often involve fear, which affects engagement. Placing students, their learning, well-being and future aspirations at the heart of your assessment program can create a very positive learning experience. The key is to build agency and ownership into the assessment so that students can apply what they have learned in ways they find useful. This includes designing assessment activities that link to opportunities of interest beyond the module, such as allowing students to present their research at a conference, or allowing students to choose the theme and format of their assignments and choose deadlines. It means that.
4. Co-create resources
Students are better engaged when course information and resources are accessible and learner-focused. Course documents such as assignment summaries and grading schemes are traditionally peer-reviewed by academics, but this moderation strategy can sometimes result in student-centredness being overlooked. We found that co-creating module guidance, assignment summaries, and grading rubrics with students made the required course documentation more approachable, approachable, and motivating for students.
5. Integrate empathy, compassion, and social-emotional intelligence
Engagement occurs when students feel valued, heard, and understood. Developing and leveraging social-emotional intelligence as teachers when implementing student-centered learning is critical to establishing healthy teacher-learner relationships, caring learning environments, and unhelpful hierarchies that negatively impact learning. is essential to countering. To achieve this, you need to critically evaluate how you communicate with students, demonstrate concern for their well-being, and provide individualized support where possible.
Student-centered classroom
By conceptualizing the classroom as a versatile space with a holistic experience of student-centered learning, opportunities for participation can be reimagined and expanded. We want our students to grow. This comes from fostering a caring, flexible and learner-centered environment where each individual can contribute to the learning experience.
Heather Meyer is Associate Professor and Director of Research and Elena Riva is Associate Professor (Reader) and Head of Department, both of whom are professors at the Institute of Higher Education and Learning (IATL) at the University of Warwick.
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