The Complex Factors That Drive Students’ Sense of Belonging
An expert in student belonging and engagement in the digital environment explains the nuances of belonging, mattering and inclusion as well as how to foster well-being in higher education.
The move to online teaching has highlighted a lack of basic pedagogical knowledge among many academics who have, mostly, been focused on career progression that has been propelled much more by their research citations than teaching kudos.
But should there be more focus on professional development and training among faculty to enhance their understanding of pedagogical principles and improve teaching in higher education? And how should teaching responsibilities be weighed against research commitments? With universities facing uncertain financial futures, will a greater focus on teaching and the student experience become more essential?
Join THE's Sara Custer and Miranda Prynne as they discuss these questions with Brian Schmidt, Nobel Laureate in Physics and vice-chancellor and president of the Australian National University and Alexandra Mihai, learning designer at University College London.