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 kiera.obrien , 28 April, 2026

Being a beginner is hard. Let’s make it easier for our students

Tips and strategies for helping students move beyond the fear of making a mistake – and feel more willing to try

Reading time

5minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 27 April, 2026

When pedagogy meets extended reality: a quick guide

How to design extended reality experiences with clear pedagogical intent, immersing students in worlds that develop decision-making skills, deepen learning and prepare them for the workplace

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 23 April, 2026

Are your students disengaging – or is it their personality type?

A struggling student works late at her desk

Students who seem lazy or like late starters may simply be wired differently. Find out how to meet them where they are

Reading time

4minutes

By kiera.obrien , 21 April, 2026

Find the courage to teach collaboratively

One mountain climber helps another over a ridge

Teaching has never been a solitary endeavour, but it can be lonely. Here’s how to nurture collaborations with your fellow educators that will help everyone grow

Reading time

5minutes

By kiera.obrien , 20 April, 2026

The questions publishing students need to be asking about GenAI

As creative industries grapple with the prospect of AI-generated content, how can educators hone critical thinking skills in the book publishers of the future? Find advice here

Reading time

4minutes

By Laura.Duckett , 20 April, 2026

‘Chinese students have plenty to say – when the conditions are right’

Two Chinese students working together on a latop

Silence in the classroom does not always signal disengagement. Learn about cultural and linguistic reasons behind low participation and strategies to better support multilingual learners

Reading time

4minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 17 April, 2026

Questions that support reflection and sense-making in STEM education

Young female student wearing safety glasses in an organic chemistry lab

Focusing on the thinking that a lab-class prompt invites – rather than the answer it elicits – allows instructors to create learning experiences that are both rigorous and inclusive

Reading time

3minutes

By kiera.obrien , 16 April, 2026

Assessment isn’t a finish line, it’s a learning process

Many assessments only measure what students already know. Here’s how to structure feedback-rich, iterative tasks to help students develop the skills to improve

Reading time

5minutes

By Eliza.Compton , 15 April, 2026

‘If you like, I can….?’ Why GenAI needs to come with a health warning

Man falling into laptop screen with numbers in cords in background

Warnings about the dependency-forming tricks of GenAI are unlikely to change student behaviour, even as they fear its effects on learning. Educators need to help students recognise engagement loops for themselves, writes Adrian Wallbank

Reading time

3minutes

By kiera.obrien , 9 April, 2026

‘Our agency over our words is central to our agency over ourselves’

Learning to use an LLM is easy but developing human intellect is hard – and that’s what the university classroom should be for. Here’s how to help students work on their mental muscles

Reading time

5minutes

Student engagement