There is great satisfaction in developing engaging materials and learning environments in preparation for a new cohort of online learners. However, albeit with the best-laid plans and intentions, we often find that within the first few weeks of semester a group of students have ‘not engaged’, and others have evidenced ‘low engagement’. This presentation shares  a proactive strategy some HE teachers have embraced to increase students’ engagement by “nudging”, particularly low or non-engaged, students. “A nudge is an attempt to alter students’ behaviour by reinforcing the importance of critical content, assessment-linked activities, or key resources”. The webinar starts by outlining details on the phenomenon and background of nudging, before inviting you to join her in working through applying/considering the  ‘nudge protocol’ with one of your subjects or courses. Finally, discussion is invited regarding the fine line between nudging and nagging in online-learning.

PRESENTER

Dr Alice Brown is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), with over twenty years’ experience in exemplary teaching in higher education (HE). At a national and international level, Alice is committed to leading and mentoring others, including academics, and learning designers in HE, on strategies for planning, developing and designing innovative and meaningful learning environments that enhance online student engagement, and at a national and international level evidences a commitment to leading and mentoring others, including academics, and learning designers in HE, on strategies for planning, developing and designing innovative and meaningful learning environments that enhance online student engagement. Alice is the recipient of numerous awards, including the UniSQ Excellence in Teaching Award for Online Learning Innovation. Alice has a strong track record of successful SoTL fellowships, grants, and leading and working in research multi-disciplinary research teams. With over 1100 citations and 37 publications, Alice’s research and publications have gained increased traction in advancing online engagement in the HE sector and shaping industry knowledge and teaching practice that is responsive to change in solving problems, including work focussed on methodological innovation in the use of nudging and course learning analytics.