Promoting student engagement through online seminars

Promoting student engagement through online seminars

IntroductionIntroduction

In-house research and monitoring within the Criminology staff group at Swansea University and targeted research conducted as part of the tHE programme (focused on alignment and assessment) highlighted student engagement as a crucial pedagogical issue. In particular, there was anecdotal evidence from students and staff of an important pedagogical relationship between seminar attendance, quality of participation in seminar discussion, learning style and diversity of teaching methods.

Student EngagementStudent Engagement

Module Learning OutcomesModule Learning Outcomes

• Compare and contrast different forms of criminological research in applied settings

• Evaluate some of the problems and dilemmas that are associated with applied criminological research

• Provide a reflective account/report of an applied criminological investigation

• Prepare and deliver a group presentation of the applied research project

• Locate and retrieve sources of criminological research in paper and electronic form

MethodologyMethodology

• The level 3 module: Applied Research Methods in Criminology, utilised the Blackboard Discussions forum to deliver seminars

• These sessions were aligned with learning outcomes

• They were grounded in group-based peer learning• The seminars were moderated and facilitated by

teaching staff• Attendance was recorded• participation was monitored through retrospective

qualitative analysis of electronic discussion logs

Outcomes: QuantitativeOutcomes: Quantitative

• Student attendance levels– Compared with other research methods modules– Compared with Level 3 modules in general

• Assessment trends at group and individual student level

• Improvements in participation levels

Module Mark Lecture Attendance Seminar Attendance

313 – Applied Research Methods 53 67 79

208 – Research Methods in Criminology

44 50 67

303 – Young Offenders & Youth

Justice57 75 74

308 – Gender, Crime & Criminal Justice 44 70 83

312 – Critical Criminology 59 54 77

Average for level 3 modules in semester 1

53 67 78

Outcomes: QualitativeOutcomes: Qualitative

• Staff satisfaction – teaching staff– Greater flexibility– Improved staff-student relationship– easier alignment,– increased student engagement– diversity of delivery methods– practical benefits

• Staff satisfaction – departmental level• Student satisfaction– Informal feedback during seminars– Feedback from staff-student liaison committee