The Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement (CTLE) held a professional development event titled “CTLE Teaching Conversations: Increasing Student Engagement” on 16 March 2022. Prof. Jerome Yen, a distinguished professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and Head of the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICI), kicked off the experience-sharing event with a talk titled “Teaching for Bridging the Gap between the Campus and Society.” According to Prof. Yen, educators can increase student engagement with course content by using teaching materials that are relevant to the community. Activities such as case studies, projects, and competitions can also help students better relate to course contents and connect such contents to industry. 

Dr. Chris Fulton, an E-Learning Technology Officer in the Centre for Teaching and Learning Enhancement (CTLE), facilitated a discussion with colleagues on how technologies might or can enhancing student engagement. Participants explored five “pandemic-introduced innovative teaching adaptations” (Glantz et al. 2021) that were identified as effective in improving student engagement, namely: (i) collaborative technologies for sense-making, (ii) student experts in learning and technology, (iii) back channels, (iv) digital breakout rooms, and (v) supplemental recordings. 

This professional development event with colleagues from various faculties at UM facilitated an exchange of ideas on how to increase student engagement.