Actively Engage Students in Your Course

Methods for Student Activation

 Learning outcomes & Content

By the end of this course, participants can ...

  • articulate requirements for student activation and motivation in courses and state why varying methods in class is essential for high quality instruction,
  • plan their courses in such a way that they enhance student activation,
  • select and successfully apply appropriate methods for student activation in their own courses.

Learning is an active process. It is thus essential that we actively engage our students in our courses. But how can this be achieved in regular course settings and without too much prep work? In this hands-on, interactive course you will find out about the requirements for student activation, why motivation matters and how we can best support our students. We will explore the Big Five of Student Motivation and explore some useful, easy-to-apply, tried and tested methods that allow for increased interaction at various stages in our instruction (such as beginning of term, warm-up, wrap-up, and short in-between tasks to help keep our students' focus and attention).

By actively engaging our students we help create a supportive and sustainable learning environment for our students and provide high quality instruction.

Apart from the input and practical application of various methods, there will also be room for individual professional support and collegial exchange.

 Target group

All instructors who wish to (further) develop their repertoire of simple yet effective methods for student activation.

 Methods

  • Individual reflection
  • Pair work
  • Smaller and larger group activities
  • Discussions
  • Short theoretical input sessions

Format & Workload

This course is planned as a face-to-face workshop. If COVID-19 regulations do not allow for classroom learning, the course will take place online.
Total workload: 9h (2 x 4 hours in the course, 2 x 30 minutes reflection)

 Course convenor:

Foto Elisabeth Weber

MMag. Dr. Elisabeth Weber

MMag. Dr. Elisabeth Weber is a certified didactics expert and professional instructor. She holds a PhD in English Language, Literature and Linguistics and is a graduate of several MA programs in didactics and English. She has intensively worked as an instructor at secondary and tertiary level for twenty years. Additionally, she works as a teacher trainer at various institutions of higher education and offers didactic coaching. Elisabeth was honored with the first prize of BOKU's Teaching Award by an international jury in 2014 and got nominated for the 2021 Austrian National Award for Higher Education.

 Dates

  • Part 1: Do., 12.10.2023, 09:00-13:00h (face-to-face class)
  • Part 2: Do., 19.10.2023, 09:00-13:00h (face-to-face class)

 Where?

Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL),
University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Universitätsstraße 5

 Registration

Please register via the Website of the Department of Human Resources Development. 

If you would like to register for this course but are not employed by the University of Vienna, please contact Isabella Kämmerer: isabella.kaemmerer@univie.ac.at