Abstract:

It is common sense that working with engaged students, versus unengaged, makes a gigantic difference in the teaching and learning experience, both for teachers and students.

Higher education teachers need to incorporate strategies in their practices to boost students’ engagement, thus enhancing the teaching and learning experiences, not only at the academic level but also with a social-emotional impact. Motivating students to actively participate as enthusiastic learners in the class is particularly relevant in the post-pandemic context. The lockdown due to COVID-19 increased students’ anxiety and impacted academic performance. As such, holistic support needs to be provided to students before expectations for committing in deep learning.

With the aim of engaging the students during the Integrative Biochemistry class, lectured in the bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, a diversity of strategies was introduced. The strategies adopted are connected to the teacher's ability to be:
(1) demanding, by communicating and keeping high expectations for learning;
(2) intentional, by explaining students why and what they are doing a certain activity;
(3) supportive, providing a nurturing learning environment.

To understand the effects of these strategies on the learning environment we collected data through different means: focus group interviews, questionnaires, and observation techniques. In particular, students acknowledge that the Spaced learning activities in class were crucial: "The breaks help clear your head a bit so that you can focus on the class again, so it's a good thing. Even though the class is 3 hours long, we don't get to the end of it with our heads exhausted”. Students also consider the teacher very supportive "Very good source materials and a professor deeply focused on our education, skills and even our lives".

These strategies described here can be applied across different settings and content areas.

Keywords:

Student´s engagement, teaching and learning strategies, student's motivation.