The author unpacks and utilizes the pedagogical success of improvisational theatre ensembles, offers core course design elements inspired by improv that match best practices, and gives concrete ideas for immediate use to strengthen community and increase engagement in college classrooms. Ensemble Culture is a framework for building community in…

Podcasting targets student engagement through technology-based blended learning and application of the four perspectives previously discussed. Podcast-based walking programs, based off of the Walking Classroom, promote exercise and learning without reducing educational time. The purpose of this commentary is to explain a teaching method that…

Life stories, while a powerful method in social sciences and humanities scholarship, are still not widely accepted and used in the higher education classroom. This commentary encourages college and university professors, particularly those of minority backgrounds, to feel at ease in using storytelling as a classroom pedagogical tool. Stories can…

In creating crossword puzzles themselves, students gain an understanding of a concept in order to create the clue for it. The instructor can make this activity either chapter- or domain-specific, for instance, to encourage reading the textbook and researching concepts. In this unique application of the self-generated crossword, students use free…

Commonly found in elementary schools, learning stations can also be a useful instructional approach for college classrooms. Learning stations prompt student groups to engage with relevant activities and have thoughtful discussions while at the same time allow instructors to monitor and interact with students.

This empirical study examined undergraduate college students' perceptions about HyFlex/hybrid courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 305 students (73 male, 234 female) completed an online survey that assessed technological strategies, instructional strategies, and perceptions about HyFlex classes. Students indicated that most of their…

This paper reports the results from the implementation of Team-Based Learning (TBL) methodology at a large Australian university. The study found a significant difference between students' learning experience and hours spent studying pre and post TBL. The study also found a significant positive relationship between in-built TBL assessments and…

In recent years, higher education institutions have emphasized pedagogical practices that increase student engagement and are said to be effective. However, most of the research on 'effective' practices often do not make the distinction between what students like--or what they find "engaging"--and what practices they feel they learn…

This study explores how different online syllabus formats affect students' engagement and their course-taking intentions. Using a 2 (format: online learning management system vs. instructor's website) X 2 (information amount: more vs. less) between-subjects design, an experimental study was conducted with undergraduate students at a large…

Game-based learning offers a compelling prospect for innovative teaching and student engagement, but popular examples often involve either complex, time-consuming systems that invite high-order thinking, or simpler, quick versions that reward memorization. Far less common are games that fit low-stakes activities (such as concept review) but…

This paper describes a collaboration between one faculty instructor and seven undergraduate student collaborators. Together, the team designed a new college course. The analysis provides a practical way for educational leaders to challenge the authority of knowledge--engaging students in their education and motivating faculty to freshen their…

This paper explores results of an online course revision to enhance student learning strategies and interactions. Data was collected from 125 of 167 students enrolled in an entry-level course at a large Midwestern university. Mid-term and end-of-semester surveys indicate that students found strategies such as mini-lectures, Quick Checks, and…

The development of undergraduate students' soft skills is crucial because their chances to satisfactorily deal with the demands of various environments and interlocutors increases with the development of their soft skills. Based on the achievement goal theory, this study aimed to examine the role of the school environment in fostering students'…

In the shift from on campus to online education, liberal arts colleges have lost much of the interaction among students that fosters student engagement, learning, and satisfaction. We present an online, student peer-to-peer mentoring program that creates learning partnerships between students and recreates this vital cocurricular learning online.…

To a growing student population for whom smartphone and Internet use started in their early childhood, social media and popular culture can be effective tools to mitigate potential anxiety and alienation students may feel when taking a theory course. This paper offers strategies and insight on the endeavor of utilizing both popular and social…