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.

Black female teacher with adult students handing out papers

Using classroom charters to support inclusive learning: four approaches

Drafting a classroom charter brings students into conversations about expectations, belonging and participation that often prove more valuable than the resulting document

Elodie Duché

York St John University

A group of students having a discussion in class

A checklist for inclusive classroom discussions

Many students stay quiet in class discussions because they are unsure about how to contribute. A simple checklist can help

Ya Zhang, Shuhao Zhang, Yu Liu

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

A small human with a sword and a shield attempts to fight a giant robot

Police a losing battle or teach students to think clearly? The choice is ours

Instead of trying to detect and ban AI, let’s teach students to interrogate it. Find five ways to embed critical AI literacy

Naeem Ramzan, Shahid Awan

University of the West of Scotland

Students look at their phones in the lecture hall

The barriers to student engagement – and how to overcome them

Five key barriers in teaching and institutional practices could be preventing students from learning. Find out how to cultivate an environment in which they can thrive

Dina Mohamed Salah , Nimrah Afaq

Dubai Medical University

Young Asian woman gaming with headset on

If games belong in the university curriculum, why are they not in the library?

For many educators, questions about institutional licensing, accessibility and cost end the conversation about digital games before teaching even begins. Here are practical ways to extend availability

Marcus Carter, Jen Scott Curwood, Ben Egliston, Eduardo Velloso

University of Sydney

Lots of traffic lights mounted on single large pole

The colour of comprehension: how to make student understanding visible

Asking ‘any questions?’ rarely gives a true picture of how much a class has taken in. A simple traffic-light strategy can reveal students’ understanding and give instructors insights they can act on immediately

Yunteng He

Central Community College

A student raises a hand in a lecture hall

Why face-to-face lectures need to be interactive – and how to do it

In the YouTube era, are lectures still an efficient use of classroom time? Achim I. Czerny argues they are – with a crucial twist

Achim I. Czerny

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Asian students in light-filled university building

Practical advice for supporting international students

For international students to thrive in their studies, they need holistic support that integrates language development and cultural exchange

Kai Cheong Lei

Macau University of Science and Technology

Two students in lecture hall look at a book

Overcome reading reluctance with in-class tasks

While no replacement for tackling long texts, short reading sessions build confidence, boost students’ learning and improve their analysis, synthesis and discussion

Noam Schimmel

University of California, Berkeley

A female student taking notes from her online class with other students and a teacher appearing in a gallery view on her screen

The power of feedback to build belonging in online learning

Connection in online learning does not happen accidentally; we must design and nurture it through feedback. Because good feedback conveys attention, recognition and care, write María de Lourdes Gómez Calvo and Estefannía Garza Tamez

María de Lourdes Gómez Calvo, Estefannía Garza Tamez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

How to establish a culture of care on campus

One university found student retention greatly improved when it made a few tweaks to its campus environment, fostering a warmer and more connected culture. Here’s how

Robert Vela

Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Make learning fun with mini whiteboards

The portable, double-sided and easily wipeable mini whiteboard offers a tactile alternative to its big brother at the front of the classroom, promoting active learning in groups of all sizes

Eleanor Hodgson

The University of Exeter

‘The more I improved my instructions, the better they worked as AI prompts’

Clear instructions tell students about the assessment task, its purpose and its criteria for success, but they also give a large language model a checklist for optimisation. Soohyun Ahn offers advice for navigating educators’ two audiences

Soohyun Ahn

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

What’s in a name? How to build trust into a student mentor role

A new framework for student support meant the creation of a new role – but what to call it? Dana Abiltayeva explains why it matters

Dana Abiltayeva

Nazarbayev University

Robotics students in a practical university class

For impactful teaching, remove barriers to learning – one decision at a time

Students can find information almost anywhere, but instructors provide something worth coming into the classroom for: meaningful relationships, authentic context and shared experiences. Matt Nowinski explains

Matt Nowinski

Virginia Tech

Who are you when you teach?

Teaching isn’t just about activities and assessments – it’s about how we fill the different roles the job requires, personally and professionally. Here’s how to shape your educator identity

Elysia Sokolenko, Matthew Arnold

Adelaide University

Outline of marching band as if in chalk on a blackboard

Lessons in teaching excellence drawn from leading a marching band

The football field can foster teaching excellence as much as the classroom. The leader of a nationally recognised marching band shares five ways to build a culture where students learn to work together and lead

Polly Middleton

Virginia Tech

A student watches a teacher lecture on a laptop

Strategies for making online courses more impactful

Here’s how to break the barrier between screen and student and engage with your online cohorts in a personal way

Heather Gass

Colorado State University Global

Advice on launching co-created humanities modules

It can be daunting designing and introducing a new module. Be brave and take chances, says Alyson Mercer, who shares tips on the process from conception to implementation

Alyson Mercer

The University of Exeter

Why a laboratory is more than a room full of equipment

The laboratory is at the centre of a university’s academic infrastructure. Here’s how to define laboratory excellence for the future

Imtias Amir Bahauddin

Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP)

‘Great teaching does not mean more work. It means better choices’

Effective teachers connect students to the ideas and knowledge that matter to them. Urbi Ghosh explains how educators can demonstrate clear links and interrupt their own practices when autopilot has kicked in

Urbi Ghosh

Colorado State University Global

How a silent card game helps students develop intercultural communication skills

A game built on gesture can speak volumes about hidden norms and the skills to navigate them because it converts an abstract concept into personal experience

Nasreen Sultana

The University of Queensland

A student taking notes on a notepad while looking at her laptop

How to prevent free riding in online group work

When collaborative assignments lack structured guidance, levels of contribution among team members may vary. Gabriela Espínola offers insight into building community and accountability online

Gabriela Espínola Carballo

Tecnológico de Monterrey

A teacher gestures to a screen in a lecture hall

Six ways to design a class students look forward to

Give students a clear reason to pay attention to your content. Here’s how to design courses to spark curiosity

Ricardo A. Ramirez-Mendoza

Universidad del Caribe (UNICARIBE)

Preparing students for the workplace? Alumni could be the key

The alumni community have been exactly where students are now. Here’s how harnessing their expertise and guidance can be invaluable

María Manson

Universidad Austral

‘Close your laptop, use your brain’

How thoughtful technology use and analogue activities can engage distracted students and reduce overreliance on AI

Lauren B. Clark

UCL

A teacher advising a student on a reading in the library

What sets great teachers apart?

A great teacher is there to inspire students, not through theatrics of personality but because of a burning love of their subject, writes Steve Lambert

Steve Lambert

University of Chester

Teachers and students working on a project together in the library

Co-creation isn’t simply asking for students’ views

How to prepare, support and work with student co-creators so that diverse perspectives can genuinely shape change

Manjula Patrick

UCL

Young female student looking confused at laptop

How to turn students’ smartphone confidence into academic digital literacy

Confidence using apps and social media doesn’t always indicate that first-year students can use university systems. Here are four ways how to make sure their practical computing habits are up to scratch

Nassir Ibrahim, Jameson Tucker, Imran Khan

Birmingham City University

How to become a better teacher

There is more to teaching than simply delivering content. Anggi Maisarah explains what she’s learned from her students and her advice for better teaching

Anggi Maisarah

Universitas Sumatera Utara

To AI or not to AI? That is the question

Educators should embrace their role as advocates for higher education and the critical thinking skills it imparts, argues Sarah Birrell Ivory. Here, she shares a classroom exercise that compares the learning benefits of a written source with generative AI

Sarah Birrell Ivory

Independent academic

Female student examining a computer chip with a magnifying glass

What is authentic about ‘authentic learning’?

The catch-all term ‘authentic’ can distinguish certain teaching, practical and assessment tasks as being more valuable than others, but educators need to ask what assumptions underpin the label, writes J. Patrick Williams

J. Patrick Williams

Nanyang Technological University

An illustration of a figure balancing on a tightrope

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

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

Lolita Edralin

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

A student on a zoom call in her home office

Make tech work in large online courses

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

Nelly Ramirez Vásquez

Tecnológico de Monterrey

University staff clasp hands in a show of solidarity

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

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

Oliver Rossetti

Arden University

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

Madeleine Pownall

University of Leeds

Architecture students inspecting plans on a board

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

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

Andrew Gipe-Lazarou

Virginia Tech

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

Treasa Kearney, Anna Egan

University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University

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

Emilia Samit

Nebrija University

Young male student looking at phone while putting off study

To stop students procrastinating, collaborate with them

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

Itamar Shatz

University of Cambridge

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

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

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

Svetoslav G. Georgiev

Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University

Male student working at laptop surrounded by images of documents

How document-grounded AI can support inclusive learning

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

Imran Khan

Birmingham City University

A student consults an AI bot for study help

Make AI literacy a foundational element of your course design

With AI becoming commonplace in nearly every industry, educators need to intentionally integrate AI into the learning process. Here’s how to do it, ethically and transparently

Andrea Ramirez-Salgado, Darius Brown, Soohyoun Ahn, Tom Zhang

University of Florida

We must stop treating internationalisation as something dependent on an aeroplane

Studying abroad can open students’ minds to the world – but the barriers to physical mobility are mounting. It’s time for a rethink

Anthony Manning

Arden University

‘You can’t just lecture students any more’

GenAI does not make lecturers redundant, but it does weaken one-way content delivery as a reason to bring students together, writes Debra Page. She shares four practical shifts to teaching in the age of AI

Debra Page

University of Reading

A student on a Zoom call with other online students

How a studio-based format transforms online teaching

Online teaching works best when teaching, facilitation and technical delivery are treated as complementary professional roles. Read guidance on studio-based delivery

Theresa Mercer , Daniel Evans, Kenisha Garnett, Multiple authors

Cranfield University

Move beyond technical skills and embed AI literacy that teaches students to question

Learning to use artificial intelligence effectively and responsibly is essential, but it is not enough. Educators should also prepare students to question, influence and shape the future of AI. Find out how

Katie Ledingham, Sarah Hartley

The University of Exeter

The understanding gap – and how AI can help university educators close it

Students often fall behind long before assessments reveal it. Identifying gaps in understanding during teaching – and using AI for just-in-time support – could transform learning, writes Zabin Visram

Zabin Visram

Glion Institute of Higher Education

Students concentrate on writing in class

A four-step writing protocol to teach students how to practise attention

Harness writing and composition teaching to help students develop their capacity for sustained attention. A simple classroom activity can get you started

Leonard Nalencz

University of Mount Saint Vincent

Daniel Guberman is this week's podcast guest

Campus Talks: Backwards course design – from learning outcomes to assessment to activities

An expert in student-centred instructional design talks through the process of creating effective university courses, including the potential of artificial intelligence to support feedback and revision

Daniel Guberman, Eliza Compton

Purdue University

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