Show time: how to be an engaging teacher

Advice on connecting with students and making your classes more dynamic

Engaging teacher spot

Many academics find themselves battling dwindling attendances for live classes, not to mention reduced motivation and interaction among those who do attend. A situation almost certainly compounded by the shift online, it appears that, for many, building rapport and engaging learners has rarely been such a challenge. While there can be some confusion over what exactly constitutes student engagement, this collection of resources shows there is broad agreement that creating fun, interactive lessons, learning how to connect with students and using technology effectively are key starting points for getting your class onside.

Sparking online joy: five ways to keep students engaged

Five guiding principles to use when designing and developing content for short online courses that will keep students engaged

Andrés Ordorica , Marcello Crolla, Lizzy Garner-Foy

The University of Edinburgh

Connecting with students

Group of young adults holding up speech balloons

Do you speak Gen Z or are you a noob?

Students want to study with academics who understand them and speak their language rather than learn from people they feel are out of touch. Here’s how to align your lingo and foster engagement

Jennifer Pulkkinen

University of Derby

Students raising hands in class

‘Well…what do you think?’ Responding to challenging questions in the moment

While daunting, tough questions from learners can be a catalyst for collaborative learning and critical thinking. Roma Forbes offers practical advice for how to respond in the classroom or the corridor

Roma Forbes

The University of Queensland

Students talking in class

Teach and talk: encouraging student dialogue in class

Dialogic validation is about making students aware of the value their ideas bring to the classroom. Roehl Sybing discusses three simple principles that teachers can adopt to get students talking

Roehl Sybing

Doshisha University

Hands up

What does ‘student engagement’ mean to you? And you? And you?

The move online compounded matters, but even before that, nobody could agree on what student engagement was – and that needs to change, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Forget everything you think you know about online engagement

There’s much interest in how many times students access the VLE or complete online tasks, but that only provides part of the picture, says Linda Kaye

Linda Kaye

Edge Hill University

Improving classroom presence

Fire-eater

The rise and rise of the lecture-tainer

Falling class attendance and shorter student attention spans present challenges for university teachers. Sandi Mann offers advice for tackling the boredom conundrum

Sandi Mann

University of Central Lancashire

Image showing one person striding off with a crowd following

Build your teaching presence to better engage students

A strong ‘presence’ in the classroom can help imbue students with a passion for your subject and willingness to learn. Catherine Wehlburg explores simple ways to enhance teaching presence

Catherine Wehlburg

Athens State University

Male healthcare working giving a presentation

Advice for lecturers on how to keep students’ attention

Psychology-based rhetoric training is a way to help lecturers counteract the fall in students’ active attention span. This programme aims to give them speaking skills and confidence that will enhance their effectiveness as educators

Kinga Györffy, András Matolcsy

Semmelweis University

Creative industry

Using films to encourage reflection and critical thinking in your teaching

Noam Schimmel shares advice on how to leverage the pedagogical and emotive power of films to support your teaching

Noam Schimmel

University of California, Berkeley

Picture this! Teaching difficult concepts through comics

David Brown and Mark Giancaspro explain how they use visualisation to maximise engagement and student success when teaching complex topics

Mark Giancaspro , David Brown

The University of Adelaide

Utilising tech effectively

A robot acting as a lecturer

ChatGPT and generative AI: 25 applications to support student engagement

In the fourth part of their series looking at 100 ways to use ChatGPT in higher education, Seb Dianati and Suman Laudari share 25 prompts for the AI tool to boost student engagement

Seb Dianati, Suman Laudari

Charles Darwin University

Use videos to boost instructor presence when teaching online

Affecting connecting: High instructor presence through videos

Liza Hita shares important lessons on using videos as a way of boosting instructor presence when teaching online

Liza Hita

Arizona State University

Medical student in virtual reality headset

Using VR to change medical students’ attitudes towards older patients

A five-minute virtual reality exercise has the power to dramatically shift students’ understanding of and empathy for dementia patients’ experience

János Kollár

Semmelweis University

Thought bubble

A plan to prevent disengagement

What educators can do to overcome three common causes of student disengagement with learning

Adeola Matthew

The University of the West Indies

Using affective learning to foster engagement and critical thinking

It takes time, patience and training, but a teaching approach that recognises the role that emotions play in learning can result in a more positive, effective and impactful student experience

Jyoti Devi Mahadeo, Rabindra Nepal

University of Bradford, University of Wollongong

Introducing humour and fun

Students laughing in seminar

How humour stimulates critical thinking, creativity and communication skills

After assigning students to write comedy scripts instead of seminar papers, André Martinuzzi and Angelo Spoerk explain how humour has great potential as a learning method

André Martinuzzi, Angelo Spoerk

Vienna University of Economics and Business

students laughing in class

How to use humour to boost student understanding and foster creativity

Humour is a versatile teaching tool, explains Pete Ludovice. It’s fun, it makes the lecturer seem more approachable, helps make complex concepts relatable, shifts cognitive load, and encourages innovation in the classroom

Peter Ludovice

Georgia Tech’s Center for 21st Century Universities

Two male Asian students in a lecture theatre

The art of bringing humour into the classroom

A laugh or smile can lighten a lecture and make students more willing to speak up in class. Here are tips for using this nuanced, subjective tool in your teaching

Cheong Fan

Macau University of Science and Technology

Follow the leader

How to use the ‘motivation and engagement wheel’ to keep students on board

I developed the wheel as a model to help demystify student motivation and provide a source for targeted help where and when necessary, says Andrew J. Martin

Andrew J. Martin

UNSW Sydney

It’s not you, it’s me: taking responsibility for student engagement and interaction

Maia Forrester and Ian Lee share lessons in boosting student engagement and interaction when teaching online, based on their experience training medical educators

Maia Forrester, Ian Lee

The University of Edinburgh

Gamification

Escape room at university

An introduction to creating escape rooms

Bernardo Pereira Nunes offers tips on how to get started on an escape room experience that will boost students’ teamwork, leadership, communication and problem-solving skills

Bernardo Pereira Nunes

Australian National University

The word ‘play’ and a downward arrow in neon

Ready, player one? How video games can help engage students

Engaging, rewarding and a great way to encourage active participation, games are a brilliant addition to a teaching and learning environment, says Chris Headleand

Chris Headleand

University of Lincoln

Illustration of man in keyhole-shaped light from hole in wall, escape concept

You wake up in a locked room… Using digital escape rooms to promote student engagement

Game-based learning can unlock students’ motivation to learn and develop skills such as critical-thinking, teamwork and problem-solving, as Steven Montagu-Cairns explains

Steven Montagu-Cairns

University of Leeds