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

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?

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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

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