Teaching and Learning Webinar | Student Engagement and Connection – What do we mean, and what matters for learning?

Student engagement is a multidimensional construct. While contested, it is generally understood to describe the affective, behavioural and cognitive states of students which influence learning, persistence and prosocial student behaviours. Our ability to measure engagement is equally contested, and yet many of our endeavours in teaching, student support and extracurricular activities are focused on achieving “student engagement” as a pre-condition of learning and student retention. Similarly, the language of “connection” has grown in importance yet can be conceptually murky.

This webinar will provide an overview of the concepts of student engagement and connection and re-examine the classroom – at the intersection of the academic and social experience – as the key location where engagement and connection yield gains for students and course communities (Tinto, 1997). Within this paradigm, through connection to a cohesive and productive learning community, students are more likely to persist in their studies and achieve their learning goals. Educators have a role to play in the intentional integration of the student’s academic and social experience in the classroom.

This webinar invites participants to reflect on the social world of the classroom as a primary site of engagement and connection, and to consider practical strategies educators can adopt and implement (tomorrow) that support learning within this paradigm. We focus on the pedagogy of learning communities and collaboration to enhance social/academic integration as effective strategies for supporting learning, engagement and connection. Implications for online learning communities are considered.

Associate Professor Jane Stenning
Vice-Provost (Academic), Excelsia University College

Associate Professor Jane Stenning is a Senior Academic Developer at the University of Notre Dame, Australia with over 15 years of leadership experience in faculty development and student success. She is an advocate for relational pedagogies and specialises in supporting educators to build student engagement through better relationships with students, and more meaningful class time, assessment and curriculum design.

Date and Time

2-3.30pm ASDT, 24 June 2025

Mode

Online free webinar