Each year, UON runs a two-day Learning & Teaching conference where staff from across the institution come together to present to colleagues research and experience about teaching in Higher Education. This year, psychology staff came together to present the work of our ongoing Attendance and Engagement Working Group (AEWG). Alasdair Gordon-Finlayson and Rachel Maunder facilitated a very well-attended and engaged group* of lecturers from across all UON faculties to share some of the work of the AEWG and to launch our library of teaching ‘Nudges’ that Rachel has developed over the past two years: techniques and strategies that staff can use to make their sessions more engaging and foster positive and collaborative relationships between staff and students.
From the abstract submitted to the conference:
The aim of this workshop is to engage in focused discussion about student attendance and engagement, leading to some tangible strategies that participants can implement with their own students.
Within the psychology subject group, we have an Attendance and Engagement working group (AEWG) who have been meeting for several years to explore issues relating to attendance and engagement. We have been examining factors contributing to attendance, what is meant by ‘engagement’, and what measures can be taken by staff to create a more engaged student body. In addition, we have led on several initiatives (such as feed forward, and strategic timetabling plans) with the aim of addressing and improving attendance and engagement.
Thanks so much to all those who attended and made this such a lively and memorable session! And of course, thanks to all members of the AEWG who have put in so much hard work over the past few years in order to make our students’ experiences more positive and rewarding.
* I’d hope so!
Title slide from the “Student A&E: What Works?” presentation
