In idea 42, Gibbs argues that student engagement has now become too slippery a concept, and that in invoking it, we need to be more precise. Do we mean:
- students’ engagement with their studies
- students’ engagement with their campus learning environment
- students’ engagement in quality assurance
- engaging students with teaching improvement and enhancement
- student engagement with teaching practice
- student engagement with research (e.g., with the latest research, in research communities, as researchers)
In addition, Gibbs points to a very interesting literature review on student engagement conducted by the Higher Education Academy in the UK.
Graham Gibbs is one of the UK’s most well known advocates of improving university learning and teaching. With his colleagues (Habeshaw & Habeshaw), he was responsible for the very popular ’53 Interesting Ideas’ books series that have supported countless teachers (new and experienced) navigate their way through tricky classroom and curriculum dilemmas. Gibbs‘ blog 53 Powerful Ideas all Teachers Should Know About offers a research summary of key issues, and is hosted by the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA) in the UK.
