Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration

Student engagement is significantly related to both retention and learning outcomes. Hence, teachers need to consider how their practices affect student engagement. Applying design-based research (DBR), the purpose of this study was to approach influencers of student engagement and explore how teach...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nina Bergdahl, Ola Knutsson, Uno Fors
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stockholm University Press 2018-12-01
Series:Designs for Learning
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.designsforlearning.nu/articles/113
_version_ 1818277048590794752
author Nina Bergdahl
Ola Knutsson
Uno Fors
author_facet Nina Bergdahl
Ola Knutsson
Uno Fors
author_sort Nina Bergdahl
collection DOAJ
description Student engagement is significantly related to both retention and learning outcomes. Hence, teachers need to consider how their practices affect student engagement. Applying design-based research (DBR), the purpose of this study was to approach influencers of student engagement and explore how teachers and researchers collaboratively could develop learning activities with learning technologies (LTs) to facilitate this. The intervention included an online assessment application, a virtual learning environment (VLE) and an additional tablet for the teacher. The teacher constantly carried the tablet around and used it to access the students’ shared workspace. The intervention was implemented in two classes in an upper secondary school. The study focuses on teachers’ experience and instruction. Three observations of the implementation of learning design and intervention evaluations were analysed. The results indicate that the teachers and researchers could design learning activities that facilitate student engagement. Engagement was facilitated as hindrances to engagement were identified and approached. The suggested solutions shaped the design of the learning activity and included LTs which provided insights into the students’ learning processes and thereby increased the teacher’s ability to scaffold learning and provide timely feedback. The LTs used opened up for additional ways for students to engage with the content, peers and contributions which motivated students to direct their energy toward task. When conditions for learning changed as a result of implementing LTs, both student interaction and teacher practices were affected. However, it was not observed that the teacher would sustain the design without support. This emphasises the need for educational goals and visions to be consistent and communicated to practitioners; otherwise, teachers will not have the guidance needed to advance or evaluate their professional development.
first_indexed 2024-12-12T22:55:21Z
format Article
id doaj.art-1b01676240264f2b81137cefd3b90174
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2001-7480
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-12T22:55:21Z
publishDate 2018-12-01
publisher Stockholm University Press
record_format Article
series Designs for Learning
spelling doaj.art-1b01676240264f2b81137cefd3b901742022-12-22T00:08:58ZengStockholm University PressDesigns for Learning2001-74802018-12-0110110.16993/dfl.11383Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher CollaborationNina Bergdahl0Ola Knutsson1Uno Fors2Stockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityStockholm UniversityStudent engagement is significantly related to both retention and learning outcomes. Hence, teachers need to consider how their practices affect student engagement. Applying design-based research (DBR), the purpose of this study was to approach influencers of student engagement and explore how teachers and researchers collaboratively could develop learning activities with learning technologies (LTs) to facilitate this. The intervention included an online assessment application, a virtual learning environment (VLE) and an additional tablet for the teacher. The teacher constantly carried the tablet around and used it to access the students’ shared workspace. The intervention was implemented in two classes in an upper secondary school. The study focuses on teachers’ experience and instruction. Three observations of the implementation of learning design and intervention evaluations were analysed. The results indicate that the teachers and researchers could design learning activities that facilitate student engagement. Engagement was facilitated as hindrances to engagement were identified and approached. The suggested solutions shaped the design of the learning activity and included LTs which provided insights into the students’ learning processes and thereby increased the teacher’s ability to scaffold learning and provide timely feedback. The LTs used opened up for additional ways for students to engage with the content, peers and contributions which motivated students to direct their energy toward task. When conditions for learning changed as a result of implementing LTs, both student interaction and teacher practices were affected. However, it was not observed that the teacher would sustain the design without support. This emphasises the need for educational goals and visions to be consistent and communicated to practitioners; otherwise, teachers will not have the guidance needed to advance or evaluate their professional development.https://www.designsforlearning.nu/articles/113student engagementdesign for engagementlearning technologies
spellingShingle Nina Bergdahl
Ola Knutsson
Uno Fors
Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
Designs for Learning
student engagement
design for engagement
learning technologies
title Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
title_full Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
title_fullStr Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
title_full_unstemmed Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
title_short Designing for Engagement in TEL – a Teacher-Researcher Collaboration
title_sort designing for engagement in tel a teacher researcher collaboration
topic student engagement
design for engagement
learning technologies
url https://www.designsforlearning.nu/articles/113
work_keys_str_mv AT ninabergdahl designingforengagementintelateacherresearchercollaboration
AT olaknutsson designingforengagementintelateacherresearchercollaboration
AT unofors designingforengagementintelateacherresearchercollaboration