On August 14th, the HERSDA Online Engagement in HE SiG once again enjoyed a showcase of lightning talks related to topics focused on online engagement. The collection of presentations reflected the energy and creativity of colleagues exploring strategies and associated scholarship related fostering connection, confidence, and belonging in online learning. In just five-minute bursts, presenters shared projects that stretched from humour and AI to equity and student voice.

• Humour in Online Teaching: Alice Brown and colleagues introduced a new framework highlighting seven considerations for using humour to build rapport, reduce distance, and support online engagement.

• AI Pedagogical Agents: A UNSW team trialled “PathBot” in pathology courses, finding it far more effective as a learning companion than as an administrative helper, boosting student motivation especially around exams.

• Communities of Practice: Jackie N and team described their flourishing CoP on evaluation of teaching and ePortfolios, using online meetings, blogs, and resources to sustain a growing cross-institutional network.

• Fostering Belonging: Vanessa from Aviation demonstrated how a simple Padlet activity helped industry-based postgraduate students connect, showing that “low-touch, high-impact” tools can humanise asynchronous learning.

• Student Voice in Engagement: Jill and her team’s project reinforced the power of listening to students’ perspectives on online learning strategies, with belonging, flexibility, and teacher presence emerging as essentials.

• Equity in Online Learning: Pushpa and colleagues shared think tank findings on supporting underrepresented students, calling for personalised strategies, universal design, and relational approaches to trust and connectedness.

Across all talks, a unifying theme emerged: online engagement is not about technology alone, but about making students feel seen, heard, and supported.

Watch the presentation at  https://youtu.be/msMGMs60VYg