Improving Student Engagement Through Technology

Proceedings of the 2003 ASCUE Conference, www.ascue.org June 8 – 12, 2003, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Improving Student Engagement through Technology

Christopher I. Chalokwu Vice President for Academic Affairs Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL 60655 773-298-3191 chalokwu@sxu.edu Nubi Achebo Director of Instructional Technology Saint Xavier University Chicago, IL 60655 773-298-3884 achebo@sxu.edu

Introduction Recently higher education institutions have become increasingly concerned about the issue of student engagement in learning. In response to internal and external pressures, university administrators are looking for better ways to keep students focused on academics and to retain larger numbers of students. According to the National Survey or Student Engagement (NSSE) “Student engagement represents two critical features.” First, “the amount of time and effort students put into their studies and other educationally purposeful activities; and second, how the institution deploys its resources and organizes the curriculum, creates other learning opportunities, and support services to induce students to participate in activities that lead to experiences and outcomes that constitute student success.” This paper focuses on the second aspect of student engagement. The NSSE is based upon the premise that the more students engage in a learning activity; the more learning actually takes place (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2002 Annual Report). Survey items for NSEE were developed according to the following principles of good practice in undergraduate education described by Chickering and Gamson 1987): studentfaculty contact, cooperation among students, active learning, prompt feedback, time on task, high expectations, and respect for diverse talents and ways of learning. Saint Xavier University was part of the initial public offering of NSSE in Spring 2000. The institution also participated in the 2001 and 2002 national surveys. Results from the first...