1. Discursive constructions of engagement in higher education Dr Ann Luzeckyj Centre for University Teaching

2. Overview Consider Foucault's three criteria of discourse: formation; transformation; and, correlation to respond to the question : “How is the term ‘student engagement’ constructed in university settings?” Which leads to a related question: How does this discursive construction of ‘student engagement’ shape the teaching and learning experiences of educators and students in universities?

3. Analytic tools from Foucault Three criteria of discourse: Formation: all objects, operations, concepts and theoretical options are collected together Transformation: includes the identification of a moment in time the discourse was formed, the way it has been modified and reformed Correlation: the discourse is defined in relation to other discourses and within non-discursive contexts (1991b) Normalisation (1991b) Conditions (1991a, 1991c, 1998)

4. Constructions of engagement ‘negotiated engagement’ … ‘new realities of the student experience largely concern the change in priority students now give to their time at university’ (McInnis 2003, p 3)

5. Constructions of engagement ‘the amount of time and effort students‘ contribute plus how institutions use ‘resources and organize the curriculum and other learning opportunities to’ encourage student participation ‘in activities that decades of research studies show are linked to student learning’ (NSSE 2012)

6. Measuring engagement The Student Engagement Questionnaire includes what it refers to as six measurable ‘engagement scales’. These are: Active Learning; Academic Challenge; Student and Staff Interactions; Enriching Educational Experiences; Supportive Learning Environment; and, Work Integrated Learning (Australian Council for Educational Research 2010, p 2)

7. Normalising engagement AUSSE - Australian Survey of Student Engagement (Australian Council for Educational Research 2011, p 2) Year2007200820092010 2011 No. of institutions 25293654 41

8. Constructions of engagement ‘encompasses academic as well as selected non- academic and social aspects of the student experience’ (Krause & Coates 2008, p 493)

9. Constructions of engagement ‘dynamic interaction between a student and their learning environment’; ‘empowerment’ (Bovill, Bully & Morse 2011, p 198)

10. What is ‘student engagement’? These words are from the literature (student) involvement social aspects of the student experience student experience student participation student attendance teacher / student collaboration teacher / student interaction active (learning) (students are) academically challenged

11. References Australian Council for Educational Research. (2010). Doing more for learning: Enhancing engagement and outcomes. Australasian Survey of Student Engagement, Australasian Student Engagement Report, AUSSE Available from http://ausse.acer.edu.au/images/docs/AUSSE_2009_Student_Engagement_Report.pdf http://ausse.acer.edu.au/images/docs/AUSSE_2009_Student_Engagement_Report.pdf Australian Council for Educational Research. (2011). Australasia University Executive Summary Report Available from http://www.acer.edu.au/documents/aussereports/AUSSE_2011-Australasia-University-Executive-Summary.pdf http://www.acer.edu.au/documents/aussereports/AUSSE_2011-Australasia-University-Executive-Summary.pdf Beer, C., Clark, K., & Jones, D. (2010). Indicators of engagement. Paper presented at the ascilite: curriculum, technology & transformation for an unknown future. Retrieved from http://ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Beer-full.pdfhttp://ascilite.org.au/conferences/sydney10/procs/Beer-full.pdf Department of Education and Training. (2002). Productive Pedagogies. from http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum- framework/productive-pedagogies/html/about.htmlhttp://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports/curriculum- framework/productive-pedagogies/html/about.html Foucault, M. (1991a). Governmentality. In G. Burchell, C. Gordon & P. Miller (Eds.), The Foucault effect: studies in governmentality, with two lectures and an interview with Michel Foucault (pp. 87-105). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Foucault, M. (1991b). Politics and the study of discourse. In G. Burchell, C. Gordon & P. Miller (Eds.), The Foucault effect: studies in governmentality, with two lectures and an interview with Michel Foucault (pp. 53-72). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Foucault, M. (1991c). Truth and power. In P. Rabinow (Ed.), The Foucault reader (pp. 51-75). London: Penguin. Foucault, M. (1998). The will to knowledge: the history of sexuality Volume 1 (R. Hurley, Trans.). London: Penguin. Foucault, M. (2002). The archaeology of knowledge (A. M. Sheridan Smith, Trans.). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Hagel, P., Carr, R., & Devlin, M. (2011). Conceptualising and measuring student engagement through the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE): a critique. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 37(4), 475-486. Kift, S. (2009). A transition pedagogy for first year curriculum design and renewal (Power point slides). Paper presented at the ALTC FYE Curriculum Design Symposium. Retrieved from http://www.fyecd2009.qut.edu.au/resources/PRE_SallyKift_5Feb09.pdfhttp://www.fyecd2009.qut.edu.au/resources/PRE_SallyKift_5Feb09.pdf Krause, K.-L., & Coates, H. (2008). Students' engagement in first-year university. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 33(5), 493-505. McInnis, C. (2001). Signs of disengagement? The changing undergraduate experience in Australian universities (pp. 1- 15). Melbourne: University of Melbourne. McInnis, C. (2003). New realities of the student experience: How should universities respond? Paper presented at the 25th Annual conference European Association for Institutional Research, University of Limerick, Ireland. National Survey of Student Engagement - About NSSE. (2012). Retrieved 10 November, 2012, from http://nsse.iub.edu/html/about.cfmhttp://nsse.iub.edu/html/about.cfm Trowler, V., & Trowler, P. (2010). Student Engagement Evidence Summary. Lancaster: University of Lancaster. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological process. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press.