The so-called 'hidden curriculum' (HC) is often presented as a counterproductive element in education, and many scholars argue that it should be eliminated, by being made explicit, in education in general and specifically in higher education (HE). The problem of the HC has not been solved by the transition from a teacher-centered education to a…

Peer tutoring in higher education aims to enhance student learning, and confidence. In writing centres, peer writing tutors use critical questioning to make the tutorial sessions student-focused and productive. The nature of questions influences the outcomes of the tutorials, yet research has not devoted sufficient time to unpacking what form this…

In this article we reflect on the similarities and differences among student service offices in the United States versus higher education institutions in Germany. Specifically the "Studentwerk" organization is discussed, which provides student services to institutions across Germany.

This short-form article introduces the Pre-Texts protocol (Harvard Cultural Agents Initiative) as a way to introduce new texts in class by using creation as a catalyst for reflection and dialogue. This current article briefly describes the benefits of this technique for the present generation of learners and teachers, as well as outlines clearly…

This paper analyses information and university students's opinions, from the Faculty of Geography of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, regarding the field trips organised during their studies. Information and opinions were collected by means of a questionnaire administered in 2017. There were analysed: the number of field trips…

The purpose of this study was to examine how to best develop and enhance critical and analytical thinking skills amongst college students enrolled in history and/or social studies courses. Through traditional, lecture style instruction, as well as a cooperative and collaborative learning pedagogy known as Reacting to the Past, this study was…

Before the pandemic, loneliness was already a burden affecting the health and well-being of students. The COVID-19 pandemic, with mandated isolations and closures of campuses, amplifies feelings of isolation and loneliness. Previous work shows that isolated and lonely individuals experience a lack of perceived control, but educators have little…

An effective classroom is where there are various forms of interactions: student-student and teacher-student. Unfortunately, most of the interactions that go on in our lecture theatres are minimal. This paper reports an innovative method of engaging students through the use of an Audience Response System (ARS) in a university course. The ARS was…

Exploring adult learners' expectations of ideal course environments is essential since the social climate of courses influences students' learning outcomes and persistence. This study investigated adult learners' expectations of ideal course environments focused on task orientation, teacher support, and student influence using two versions of the…

What started as a mission to help the author's journalism students develop employability skills, opened up their practice to the area of 'mindful play'. From this, the author started to develop a creative, holistic and student-centred teaching and learning strategy, using simple, workable interventions to stimulate dialogic learning, strengthen…

In today's fast-changing, highly technical world, few challenges are more daunting for those who care about student-centered learning than engaging students and faculty with technology in ways that matter. As a student, faculty member, and administrator, author Paul Trebian begins by saying that having worked to help institutions find paths to…

Higher education has seen a shift towards promoting student-centred learning. There has also been a push for identifying the 'best' teaching models and an insistence that instructors use these models, despite mixed results regarding their effectiveness. In the current paper, we compare the effects of an autonomy-supportive learning environment on…

Research in science education confirms the importance of self-efficacy in students' persistence and success in the sciences. The current study examined the role of science self-efficacy in nonspecialist, arts and communication-oriented students encountering science in a general education context. Participants (N = 275) completed a beginning- and…

Quality teaching and how to assess and award it, continue to be an area of scholarship and debate in higher education. While the literature demonstrates that assessment should be multifaceted, operationalizing this is no easy task. To gain insight into how teaching excellence is defined in Canadian higher education, this empirical study collected…

Conventional wisdom encourages educators to cultivate student success by creating expectations among students, with the intention of boosting motivation and empowerment. If students feel that their learning is in their hands, they are more likely to fulfil the learning outcomes. But this paper argues that vulnerable or sensitive students are…