Enhancing Student Success Through Student Engagement in the Digital

Environment

This presentation connects student success with the digital voice of a tertiary provider.

The term voice refers to the presence, perceived by a viewer, that exists behind what is presented: the implied author.

In an educational web environment this presence can play an important strategic role in student engagement.

‘Catching’ and then keeping students engaged is a key determiner of institution’s and student’s success. This is why we are

having this conversation.

One powerful engagement tool education institutions have is their LMS. When

considered as part of a student engagement strategy the LMS plays a pivotal role in

engaging students while they are enrolled.

Web users expect feeds, friends, events and news from their favourite sites. Compared with news and social media sites, many LMSs have little life-context for the student.

However, a LMS should not try to be like these places, a LMS needs to have its own identity as a place of learning, it must have its own voice.

A LMS may have a particular style to it that offers an engaging, interesting, learning space to a particular audience. It can have the voice of a friend or mentor. It can be fun-loving, simple, edgy or academic.

So, what currently defines the voice of this institution?

What would be some of the defining characteristics you would like your institution’s voice to have?

Can these characteristics be captured in a set of principles, such as: relates to the cohort, not overly demanding of resources and lecturer time, makes connections to a wider learning context?

Different elements will play differing roles in engaging students. Elements such as feeds and discussions may interact, some elements may require observation by the lecturer or class reps. Expected student behaviour must be made clear.

Each site will have its specific requirements that balance workload with the strategic goal of greater engagement. The matrix is complex.

Clearly the process of making a LMS ‘engaging’ to a particular audience needs to be resourced: it is an activity that requires technical skill, an understanding institution’s strategy, and feedback from the users. It is also a process of evolution.

The process of presenting a strategic voice can then begin

A voice that will engage students; make the learning environment a place students choose to go; cause students to connect and share; develop student interest beyond their coursework; and keep more students engaged and involved until they complete.

Only when the direction is understood can a plan of action can be considered.