Communities of/for learning: enhancing student engagement in changing HE environments

Simm, D ORCID: 0000-0002-0440-9546 and Marvell, A (2018) Communities of/for learning: enhancing student engagement in changing HE environments. In: RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2018, 28 - 31 August 2018, Cardiff University, UK.

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Official URL: http://conference.rgs.org/AC2018/371

Abstract

The shifting environment of HE has undoubtedly led to changes in the relationships between students and their learning. The neoliberal agenda, full-fee student fees in the UK, performance league tables, and changes in the (part-time) work-study balance are some of the influences on students’ perceptions of study and expectations of educational experience. The idea of Communities of Learning involves encouraging better student engagement through creating a sense of community and identity, with the result that students are more willing to share and co-operate with their studies, contribute more readily to university life, and which could include co-partnership in course design or staff research. This introduction will briefly review the opportunities and challenges of creating Communities of/for Learning to enhance student engagement. The paper will review the forms and characteristics of such communities and their relationships to infrastructure of learning spaces. It will also start to examine the efforts to create Communities of Learning which involve the creation of learning and support environments, and adopting appropriate learning and teaching strategies, in order to stimulate Communities for Learning, whereby students take possession and responsibility of their own (and others’) learning. Which teaching and learning strategies encourage a sense of community, and what opportunities and challenges exist? As tutors, can we create learning environments that foster Communities for Learning, and find ways to better support Communities of Learning that evolve, with student partnership, into Communities with Learning?

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions: School of Sciences
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2018 09:51
Last Modified: 25 May 2024 05:30
URI / Page ID: https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/11415
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