Category: Student Engagement

The Power of Students’ Stories – Faculty Focus
The power of human stories is undeniable. Whether conveyed through music, art, writing, or oral storytelling—sharing one’s lived experience can have a profound impact. Stories connect people by tapping into their universal emotions, experiences, and values. They can also preserve and pass on traditions, customs, language, and culture or be utilized as a persuasive tool to inspire action.

In educational settings, storytelling can be transformative. When students are given opportunities to reflect on their lives and narrate their experiences, they can better understand themselves and others. Stories also give students a voice, which is particularly important for those who are disenfranchised. By sharing their stories, the inequities they experience are humanized, which might lead to institutional change, such as policy shifts that can close equity gaps.

Ways to Integrate Storytelling in the Classroom
1. Storytelling Templates: Offer a simple storytelling template to guide students in their reflective thinking and writing. It might be helpful to have them consider the main characters, setting, and plot of their narratives. Stories can be organized chronologically, thematically, or by using a cause/effect or problem/solution design.
Example:
1. What are your goals in school? How will having an education improve your life?
1. What challenges, if any, have you experienced in school?
1. How are you working to overcome these challenges?
1. How can the school help you succeed? What support or resources would help?
1. Interactive Journals: Utilize an interactive journal, where students can share their stories. Then, a teacher can respond with positive feedback, questions, or additional reflective prompts.
1. Exit Tickets: Give students exit tickets at the end of class so they can write stories to share personal connections they have made with class concepts. This can help them slowly feel more comfortable sharing their stories and begin to see the relevance of the material to their personal or professional lives.
1. Human Library: Every student has a story to share. It might be about their role as a student, athletic accomplishments, time in the military, or experiences in a family. Each student’s story is like a book that their classmates can “check out” to learn more about them.
1. Student Interviews: As an icebreaker during the first week of class, students can create interview questions so they can get to know their classmates. Ideally, they will meet most, if not all, of their peers, which will help them start to build a classroom community.
1. Creative Outlets: Encourage students to share their stories through podcasts, blog posts, comic strips, posters, or presentations. Creative expression may help students talk about experiences that are difficult to put into words.
Although there are many benefits to having students share their stories, there may also be challenges to consider. For some students, it can be emotionally draining to revisit past experiences, especially if they are traumatic. As such, it is important for teachers to approach these activities with compassion and understanding.

Considerations for Respectful Storytelling
1. Safe Learning Spaces: Building a safe learning space where trust is built may prime students for sharing their stories. This takes time, so teachers may want to wait to assign storytelling until rapport has been built in the classroom.
1. Promote Boundaries: Not everyone will feel comfortable sharing their stories. Teachers may give students the option to opt out or to choose what parts of their stories they feel comfortable sharing.
1. Encourage Respectful Listening: The audience should have clear expectations for how to respectfully listen to their classmates’ stories. By using empathetic body language such as leaning in, nodding, and making eye-contact when a student is opening up, it can have a profound impact and provide validation.
1. Alternate Assignments: If speaking openly is too personal, teachers can let students share their stories in alternate formats. Consider creative outlets, such as art, music, or memory boxes.
1. Model Vulnerability: Teachers can model storytelling in class. Then, they can speak to the courage it takes to be vulnerable in front of others.
1. Acknowledge Effort: When students do take the risk and open up in class, teachers can genuinely praise their efforts. This is particularly important when students are sharing a tough topic.
Incorporating storytelling into the classroom can empower students to share their unique experiences and perspectives. By thoughtfully guiding these activities, teachers can create spaces where all students feel seen and valued. When students share their stories, they build bridges of compassion, which can foster inclusion in the classroom and enrich the learning community.

Amy M. Anderson, EdD, teaches communication studies courses at Spokane Community College and Whitworth University. She earned her doctorate in teaching and learning from Grand Canyon University and her master’s degree in communication and leadership studies from Gonzaga University. Amy enjoys researching, writing, and presenting on topics relating to communication, higher education, leadership, teaching, and reflective practice. She is also passionate about improving equity, diversity, and inclusion in and out of higher education institutions.

Kelly R. Maguire, EdD, teaches for the College of Doctoral Studies at Grand Canyon University. She earned a doctorate in teaching and learning from Grand Canyon University, a master’s degree in English, and a master’s degree in elementary education from Northern Arizona University. Her bachelor’s degree in elementary education was earned at the University of Arizona. Her research and presenting interests include teacher training, pre-service teachers, microteaching, content knowledge, and reflective practice.
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February 14, 2025
The higher education sector needs to come together to renew its commitment to enhancing student engagement

“Engagement, to me, is probably…getting the most out of university…taking and making the most of available opportunities.”

This quote, from Queen’s University Belfast students’ union president Kieron Minto sums up a lot of the essential elements of what we talk about when we talk about student engagement.

It captures the sense that the higher education experience has multiple dimensions, incorporating personal and professional development as well as academic study. Students will be – and feel – successful to the extent that they invest time and energy in those activities that are the most purposeful. Critically, it captures the element of student agency in their own engagement – higher education institutions might make opportunities available but students need to decide to engage to get the most from them.

In recent years “student engagement” has suffered from the curse of ubiquity. Its meanings and applications are endlessly debated. Is it about satisfaction, academic success, personal growth, or a combination of factors? There is a wealth of examples of discrete projects and frameworks for thinking about student engagement, but often little read-across from one context to another. We can celebrate the enormous amount of learning and insight that has been created while at the same time accepting that as the environment for higher education changes some of the practices that have evolved may no longer be fit for purpose.

Higher education institutions and the students that are enrolled in them face a brace of challenges, from the learning and development losses of the Covid pandemic, to rising costs and income constraints, to technological change. Institutions are less able to support provision of the breadth of enriching opportunities to students at the same time as students have less money, time, and emotional bandwidth to devote to making the most of university.

The answer, as ever, is not to bemoan the circumstances, or worse, blame students for being less able to engage, but to tool up, get strategic, and adapt.

Students still want to make the most of the opportunities that higher education has to offer. The question is how to design and configure those opportunities so that current and future students continue to experience them as purposeful and meaningful.

Fresh student engagement thinking

Our report, Future-proofing student engagement in higher education, brings together the perspectives of academic and professional services staff, higher education leaders, and students, all from a range of institutions, to establish a firm foundation of principles and practices that can support coherent, intentional student engagement strategies.

A foundational principle for student engagement is that students’ motivations and engagement behaviours are shaped by their backgrounds, prior experiences, current environments, and hopes and expectations for their futures – as explained by Ella Kahu in her socio-cultural framework for student engagement (2013).

It follows that it is impossible to think about or have any kind of meaningful organisational strategy about student engagement without working closely in partnership with students, drawing on a wide range of data and insight about the breadth of students’ opinions, behaviours, and experiences. Similarly, it follows that a data-informed approach to student engagement must mean that the strategy evolves as students do – taking student engagement seriously means adopting an institutional mindset of preparedness to adapt in light of feedback.

Where our research indicates that there needs to be a strategic shift is in the embrace of what might be termed a more holistic approach to student engagement, in two important senses.

The first is understanding at a conceptual level how student engagement is realised in practice throughout every aspect of the student journey, and not just manifested in traditional metrics around attendance and academic performance.

The second is in how institutions, in partnership with students, map out a shared strategic intent for student engagement for every stage of that journey. That includes designing inclusive and purposeful interventions and opportunities to engage, and using data and insight from students to deepen understanding of what factors enable engagement and what makes an experience feel purposeful and engaging – and ideally creating a flow of data and insight that can inform continuous enhancement of engagement.

Theory into practice

Our research also points to how some of that shift might be realised in practice. For example, student wellbeing is intimately linked to engagement, because tired, anxious, excluded or overwhelmed students are much less able to engage. When we spoke to university staff about wellbeing support they were generally likely to focus on student services provision. But students highlighted a need for a more proactive culture of wellbeing throughout the institution, including embedding wellbeing considerations into the curriculum and nurturing a supportive campus culture. Similarly, on the themes of community and belonging, while university staff were likely to point to institutional strategic initiatives to cultivate belonging, students talked more about their need for genuine individual connections, especially with peers.

There was also a strong theme emerging about how institutions think about actively empowering students to have the confidence and skills to “navigate the maze” of higher education opportunities and future career possibilities. Pedagogies of active learning, for example, build confidence and a sense of ownership over learning, contributing to behavioural and psychological engagement. Developing students’ digital literacy means that students can more readily deploy technology to support connection with academics and course peers, make active critical choices about how they invest time in different platforms, and prepare for their future workplace. Before getting exercised about how today’s students do not arrive in higher education “prepared to engage,” it’s worth remembering just how much larger and more complicated the contemporary university is, and with these, the increased demands on students.

While there is a lot that institutions can do to move forward their student engagement agenda independently, there is also a need for a renewed focus on student engagement from the higher education sector as a whole. The megathemes contributing to shifting student engagement patterns are shared; they are not distinctive to any institution type, geography, or student demographic.

The promise of higher education – that you can transform your life, your identity and your future through a higher education experience – only holds true if students are willing and able to engage with it. This demands a unified effort from all involved.

Institutions must prioritise student engagement, placing it at the heart of their strategies and decisions. Furthermore, the higher education sector as a whole must renew its focus on student engagement, recognising its fundamental role in achieving the goals of higher education. Finally, as regulatory bodies evolve their approach to the assessment and enhancement of academic quality, student engagement must once again be put front and centre of the higher education endeavour.

This article is published in association with evasys. You can download a copy of Future-proofing student engagement here.

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February 3, 2025
Welcome Visible Body to Cengage

Reading Time: 2 minutes

At Cengage, creating quality learning experiences is a priority. Our goal is to put the learner at the center of these experiences to help them prepare for the future, especially in much-needed fields like health care, biology and life sciences.

And so, to enhance learner engagement and deepen students’ understanding of key science concepts, we’re excited to welcome Visible Body to Cengage and our science offerings.

Introducing Visible Body

Visible Body is a leading provider of interactive apps and software used by over a million students, educators and health care/biomedical professionals around the world. Visible Body provides highly detailed 3D visuals, micro-lessons and game-like interactivity to make studying anatomy and biology easier and more engaging.

Cengage and Visible Body deepen science learning

By teaming up, we can provide expanded science offerings to more learners and educators — boosting engagement, improving problem-solving skills and strengthening students’ grasp of key science concepts.

Visible Body adds to the variety of ways we can support learning. For science courses like anatomy and physiology and biology, it is vital that students gain a deep understanding of the human body and are given a hands-on way to engage with the concepts and processes.

With accurate visual representations, anatomically correct 3D models and immersive activities, learners can master the concepts quickly, while gaining access to real-world scientific experiences and practicing essential skills for the workforce. AR and mixed reality bring learning to life, enabling students to engage with scenarios typically limited to lab environments. This approach empowers institutions, especially those strained for resources, to deliver high-quality, engaging education without labs.

What’s in the future for science teaching and learning?

Visible Body will be available with Dr. Liz Co’s “Anatomy & Physiology” later this spring with plans to add it to even more Cengage higher ed and K-12 science resources soon.

Interested in learning about Liz Co’s “Anatomy & Physiology” — along with the addition of Visible Body? Fill out the form to find out more.

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January 13, 2025
Graduate Student Insights and Perspectives
Report Title: Building a Better Pipeline: Enrollment Funnel Needs and Perspectives from Potential Post Baccalaureate Students

Author: Collegis Education + UPCEA

Published: December 2024
Key points addressed

In this ebook, you’ll learn more about prospective graduate students’ needs and expectations as they move through the enrollment funnel, including:
- The level of degree desired, as well as the preferred learning format
- Factors that cause disengagement during the inquiry and application processes
- Prospective students’ communication preferences and application expectations
- How institutions can tailor recruitment strategies accordingly
Overview

While higher education institutions face tightening budgets, demographic cliffs, and other market headwinds, many schools see graduate enrollment growth as a critical strategy despite the increasingly competitive landscape. Strategic investments in outreach have never been more vital.

With more and more programs sharing similarities in their structure than differences, one way schools can win is by delivering frictionless and exceptional student experiences, using prospective graduate students’ preferences, behaviors, and other insights to personalize engagements and outreach.

By understanding these preferences, institutions can better tailor their recruitment strategies and allocate resources more effectively in an increasingly competitive landscape.

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December 10, 2024
Building a Better Transfer Experience for Modern Learners
In 2022, 36.8 million students under the age of 65 fell into the category of Some College, No Credential (SCNC)–a population that grew by nearly 3% year-over-year by 2024. These learners, who started but did not complete a credential, represent a growing population with significant potential for re-enrollment. Understanding their needs is essential to support their return to higher education.

For SCNC students, one key factor can significantly influence their decision to re-enroll—transfer credit policies. The Education Reengagement Report, conducted in collaboration with DegreeSight, provides a comprehensive overview of this subset of modern learners, uncovering key strategies to re-engage these students by addressing their unique needs, particularly surrounding maximization of previously earned credits and awareness of credit transfer policies. Explore the report’s findings to gain deeper insights into how institutions can effectively engage and support SCNC students on their path to completion.
Who are Some College, No Credential (SCNC) Modern Learners?

SCNC students represent a noteworthy portion of the Modern Learner population, and their unique profile merits deep consideration when developing approaches to re-engagement. For more insights into the challenges faced by stopped-out students and strategies to support their return, read our previous article on addressing their barriers. In the context of the Education Reengagment Report, SCNC students are defined as those seeking reenrollment or who have already reenrolled elsewhere. Their experiences and motivations reflect diverse life experiences, making them a unique yet significant audience for higher education institutions.

SCNC students comprise of diverse demographic and professional profiles. Most are aged between 25-29 (66%), and a significant portion (33%) identify as first-generation college students. Their employment status also varies, with 59% working full-time, 20% employed part-time, and 16% not currently employed. Many SCNC students were previously enrolled in associate degree programs (43%), while others sought bachelor’s degrees (57%), reflecting a broad range of academic aspirations.

SCNC students pursue a wide range of academic interests, with certain fields emerging as particularly popular. The areas of study with the highest levels of enrollment for SCNC students include Business (24%), IT, Computers, and Technology (20%), and Health-related fields (13%). Additionally, learning format preferences reveal a demand for flexibility, with 47% favoring on-campus programs, 29% opting for hybrid options, and 20% preferring fully online programs. These findings emphasize the need for flexible program offerings to meet SCNC students’ varying needs and schedules.

Career advancement is a primary motivation for SCNC students when initially enrolling. Sixty percent enrolled in an undergraduate program to improve their earning potential or launch a new career, while 40% sought careers better aligned with their interests. Additionally, 30% pursued a degree as a next step following high school or technical school.

However, financial challenges, competing responsibilities, and various program limitations are common reasons for stopping out. Survey results show that the main barrier to continuing education for SCNC students is cost, with 32% citing it as their primary reason for stopping out. Other reasons include Covid-19 related reasoning (20%), lack of flexibility in the program (19%), and inability to use federal financial aid (15%). Understanding these critical factors is essential for institutions looking to reengage this population. By addressing the root causes of their stop-outs, institutions can better connect with SCNC students and deliver personalized solutions to them.

The report surveyed both SCNC and transfer students. While these groups differ in some ways, they share similarities in their focus on career outcomes and expectations for the enrollment process.

The key difference to keep in mind include:

Age: SCNC students tend to be older, with a median age of 37 compared to 31 for Transfer students

Motivation: Transfer students top motivation stems from their career aspirations, while SCNC students place greater emphasis on program affordability

Level of study: Transfer students are more likely to pursue bachelor’s degrees, while SCNC students often have a mix of associate and bachelor’s degree goals

Despite these differences, both groups share a unifying goal to leverage their existing credits to further their higher education career and achieve their personal and professional goals, making them a significant opportunity for higher education institutions.
Why are Transfer Credit Policies So Important for SCNC Modern Learners?

Many SCNC students have already earned a decent number of college credits, with 32% having completed 16 to 30 credits, indicating that they have completed at least one semester of coursework. This progress underscores the importance of transfer credit policies easing their return to higher education. With the many notable reasons for stopping out, the barrier to re-entry only rises without clear credit transfer or support systems in place. For these students, the financial burden of repeating coursework and the desire for swift completion of their degrees are top priorities.

Survey data highlights the overwhelming importance students place on credit transfer policies. Ninety-three percent of SCNC students say that the number of transferrable credits impacts their enrollment decision, with 55% indicating it as a primary factor. Additionally, 36% of students rank credit acceptance as a key consideration in their reenrollment decision, second only to tuition cost (44%) and closely followed by the availability of online programs (35%).

Clear and favorable transfer credit policies not only can alleviate the financial pressures of reenrollment but can also expedite the path to graduation. However, navigating these policies is not a simple process for many students. Thirty-five percent of students report that understanding transfer credit policies is the most difficult part of the enrollment process, followed by getting previous credits transferred (34%) and completing financial aid forms (34%). Institutions should view this as a call to action to refine their policies and streamline processes, addressing these critical pain points to better meet student needs and enhance both enrollment and retention outcomes.

How Can Institutions Better Support SCNC Modern Learners with Transfer Credits?

Supporting SCNC students requires institutions to prioritize transparency, personalized support, and flexibility—particularly where transfer credits are concerned. Many SCNC students face unnecessarily complicated processes during their reenrollment processes, making it imperative for institutions to make their policies accessible.

To better meet this demographics’ varied needs, institutions can implement the following strategies to support SCNC students:
Promote Transparent Transfer Policies:

Institutions should make transfer credit policies easy to understand and accessible across websites, marketing materials, and additional platforms. Clearly communicating how previous credits apply to degree requirements empowers students to make informed decisions. Online tools like credit transfer calculators, chatbots for common inquiries, and infographics can further empower students to understand their credit situation and feel confident making enrollment decisions.

Highlight Cost Savings and Financial Support:

To address cost barriers, institutions should clearly communicate how credit transfers reduce tuition expenses and emphasize available financial aid options. Offering flexible payment plans helps students manage their finances more readily, allowing them to focus on their education without financial stress.

Provide Comprehensive Support Services:

Having a dedicated credit transfer advisor can make a pivotal difference in the SCNC enrollment experience. These advisors can help guide students in navigating complex processes, equipping them with vital information on financial aid options, available transferrable credits, and program pathways. Support can be offered through online channels, advising, and assistance with application and registration processes. Partnering with EducationDynamics’ Enrollment Management Team can help institutions scale this support effectively.

Expand Flexible Learning Options:

Expanding online and hybrid program offerings is crucial to supporting the growing SCNC population. These flexible formats can better serve SCNC lifestyles, as these students often juggle work and family responsibilities in addition to their course load. Flexible online and hybrid-based programs are imperative to be promoted to this population, as many have changed their learning modality from classroom-based to online or hybrid. By assessing current offerings and identifying areas of expansion, institutions can better support the needs of Modern Learners.
Unlock Opportunities for SCNC Student Success

SCNC students have spoken—there is a clear need for institutions to adapt their policies and support services to meet their unique needs. By prioritizing clear transfer credit policies, personalized support, and flexible learning options, universities can attract this demographic while helping them achieve their academic goals. As institutions continue to navigate evolving enrollment challenges, adapting to the needs of SCNC students will be instrumental in building success and shaping the future of higher education.

Ready to reengage SCNC students? Explore how EDDY’s market research services help your institution effectively reach SCNC students and create successful pathways from re-enrollment to graduation.
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December 9, 2024
Acing Your Year: How You Used Top Hat in 2024

As the year draws to a close, we are once again excited to celebrate your commitment to equitable, personalized and AI-rich learning. We’re thrilled to unveil this year’s Top Hat Graded: our annual report that looks at how you and your students used our engagement platform and Ace, our AI-powered teaching and learning assistant, to your advantage. Let’s dive in.

Giving new meaning to student engagement

Click on target. Multiple choice. Fill-in-the-blank. It’s clear you wanted to shake up the standardized quiz this year. We’re honored to be along for the ride! You created more than 9.6 million multiple choice questions and 1.7 million long answer questions this year. But that’s not all. You also designed more than 985,000 fill-in-the-blank questions using our interactive platform. Our engaging formative assessment questions helped students stay focused before, during and after class when tackling their homework. Simply put, more questions posed meant more reason for students to complete their readings and attend class.

We also recognize that a good debate or small group discussion can help students shape their understanding of a new topic. While Gen Z might call it a vibe check, we’re filing this under your commitment to giving every student an equal voice. You created more than 509,000 discussions this year—interspersed within your lectures, readings and assignments. In turn, more than 147,000 discussions were used by students to assess their comprehension along the way.

Harnessing AI for good in the higher ed classroom

Artificial intelligence has, once again, been a hot topic in higher education. This past year, you viewed Ace under a refreshing light. More than 50,100 students relied on Ace for course-specific study assistance and AI-powered practice quizzes. In turn, learners also received immediate feedback rooted in the context of their course to guide their future studying efforts.

Now, let’s turn to you. More than 1,500 of your fellow faculty members used Ace this past year. Educators especially valued being able to add AI-generated questions into their slides using our Lecture Enhancer feature. Not only do our AI-powered features for educators save time during the question creation stage, Ace generates hints and explanations that allow students to identify their own misconceptions. Even better, we’ve charted a 182 percent increase in Ace usage among professors since our 2023 summary—speaking to the benefit of incorporating AI into the classroom.

Using Ace to spark active learning and higher-order thinking

Once again, you found a way to assess student comprehension without the extra time commitment. You created more than 30,400 questions using Ace’s Lecture Enhancer. Whether you wanted to drill into students’ understanding of mitosis in your biology course or Victorian architecture in your art history class, Ace offered tailored questions in response to the context of your material. Faculty also designed more than 9,200 questions using Top Hat Pages. That meant students were given yet another opportunity to assess their learning during textbook readings and homework.

We thank you for your investment in AI-powered, active learning for every student. We wish you a successful start to the new semester!

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December 9, 2024
The Sky Is The 300 Character Limit: Bluesky
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media, platforms rise and fall as quickly as trends shift. Twitter, now known as X, has undergone significant changes, from its approach to verified accounts and content insights to the way it handles ad space. This volatility has paved way for competitors to emerge, and among them, Threads, but now Bluesky is rapidly gaining traction in the digital atmosphere.

Recently surpassing 15 million users, Bluesky has positioned itself as a serious contender in the micro-blogging arena, offering users a fresh take on short-form content, photo sharing, video creation, and community-based content. 

What is Bluesky?

Bluesky is the first app to dethrone Twitter at the top of app store charts. Founded in 2019 by former Twitter employees, it was initially developed to complement the platform we all know but has since carved out its own identity. After operating on an invite-only basis through 2023, Bluesky is now fully open to the public. This was vital to the growth of the platform, as they attempted to appeal to users wanting to “flee” Twitter/X for a different space to share insights or cat memes. 

At its core, Bluesky focuses on community-driven sharing, allowing users to interact in familiar ways—through likes, replies, reposts, and follows.

The Advertising-Free Zone

Currently, Bluesky operates without any advertising, offering a purely organic experience for its users. While this will likely change in the future, the ad-free environment has contributed to its appeal among users seeking a more authentic and less commercialized space. Users want a space where they can gather information or converse without the never-ending interruption ads that have come to populate X and other platforms. Users know ads will eventually be introduced, but the joy of new social platforms is how authentic and organic the space feels. It is a way to build authentic and personal connections in a completely curated feed, which is what users are looking for in a new space. 
Unique Features That Set Bluesky Apart

The most revolutionary feature is Bluesky’s decentralized model. Users can host their servers, storing data independently and setting their own rules, much like the structure of Discord. Here are a few of the other Bluesky features that make the platform stand out for many users:

Content Detachment: Unlike other platforms, users can detach their accounts from content when it is reshared or quoted by others, giving them greater control over their posts.

Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech: The platform is committed to fostering a safe environment, with a dedicated team actively monitoring content for hate or extremist behavior.

Greater Control: BlueSky offers users the ability to control their feeds, and even manage multiple streams of content. Users can set up custom feeds or join public feeds tailored to topics of their choosing.

Additionally, Bluesky allows users to create unique domain-based handles (e.g., @username.sky), providing a distinctive identity for individuals and organizations alike. Universities could use .edu handles to strengthen their community presence and allow outsiders to know instantly where the server will focus. 
Threads or Bluesky: Which Platform Should You Choose?

Both. It would help if you grabbed those handles when you can. Even if you don’t plan to post right away, it is a good plan of action to have them in your marketing department’s back pocket. You want to avoid becoming part of those challenges where others have your user and will make you purchase it. Think about the efforts you wish to make. What is the University’s voice for this style of media? Do you want to share updates and insights or try the latest catchphrases to meet your students? It could be a combination of all of this and figuring it out, seeing how your students interact, and making content to fit their needs. Threads right now does provide more insight, but it has yet to find it’s right footing within the world of short text. Bluesky seems to be excelling on that front. 

What Does Bluesky Mean for Universities?

Bluesky’s rise signals a shift in how people want to consume media. Twitter/X has faced criticism for its unpredictable algorithms, ad policies, and evolving identity. In contrast, Bluesky promises a return to chronological timelines, community-building, and user-driven experiences. It is saying all the right words to users, and it will be interesting to see if it can keep its promises. 

For universities and brands, this is a chance to establish a presence on a platform designed for engagement and conversation. Early adoption could secure valuable handles and position organizations to connect with students, parents, alums, and stakeholders in a more meaningful way. Bluesky’s community-first approach means content should be both informative and approachable, bridging gaps and fostering connections. Universities, for example, could use the platform to quickly share updates, create dialogues, and build a sense of belonging among their audiences.

How Will Bluesky Impact the Digital Landscape?

Bluesky is more than just another social media platform; it’s a reflection of changing user expectations. As it continues to grow, universities and brands should take note and prepare for a potential shift in how they communicate in the digital space. With its decentralized foundation, focus on community, and fresh approach to micro-blogging, Bluesky is paving the way for a new era of social media.

At EducationDynamics, we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of social media trends. We are committed to exploring how organic platforms like Bluesky can help institutions engage new students and cultivate thriving online communities. For ongoing support and insights, connect with our organic social team and elevate your strategy.
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November 26, 2024
The Top 5 Higher Education Podcasts

As an educator, where do you go for advice on teaching? Perhaps it’s a book. Maybe it’s a social media channel of your choosing. But more often than not, faculty have turned to higher education podcasts as a way of gleaning fresh insights in a captivating, bite-sized format. It’s no secret that educators are stretched between teaching, grading and research commitments. So listening to a reputable guest share their best practices for improving equity, engagement and interaction in the classroom is a valuable faculty development and training exercise in of itself.

If you’re looking for the best higher education podcasts to explore, this post is for you. We’ve rounded up our favorite shows that speak to the good, the bad and the ugly within higher ed in our present moment. We also capture podcasts hosted by leaders who bring deep, discipline-specific expertise to their field. Most importantly, we’ve summarized shows that not only cover the latest trends but offer practical advice in an educational and entertaining way. So grab your earbuds and let’s dive into the top higher education podcasts of the year.

→ NEW HIGHER EDUCATION PODCAST: Stream S1 of Higher Listenings by Top Hat

1. Higher Listenings by Top Hat

Ok, call us biased, but we think Higher Listenings from Top Hat is well worth a listen. Higher Listenings aims to engage and entertain educators with a look at the latest trends shaping the future of teaching and learning. In our first season, we offer practical advice to leave you feeling equipped and confident to tackle your next teaching challenge—whether boosting reading completion rates or embracing AI-powered learning. The first season offers an all star line up featuring some of the leading change makers in higher ed including Jesse Stommel (author of Ungrading: Why We Grade and How to Stop), José Antonio Bowen (author of Teaching with AI) and Terrell Strayhorn (leading expert on student belonging). Stay tuned for season two releasing in January 2025! In the meantime, catch up on our inaugural season by listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

2. Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak

As the most effective educators know, good teaching is both an art and a science. Dr. Bonni Stachowiak is a professor and Dean of Teaching and Learning at Vanguard University. As the host of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, Stachowiak serves up best practices across four key categories including: digital pedagogy, student life, work-life balance and teaching. Notable guests include Joshua Eyler (Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Mississippi) and Jenae Cohen (Executive Director at the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of California, Berkeley). Whether you’re looking for strategies to grade more productively or need guidance on ed tech integration in higher education, Stachowiak’s impressive lineup will leave you feeling inspired. Listen to the latest episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

3. Intentional Teaching by Derek Bruff

Do you want to take your knowledge of foundational teaching practices to the next level? Dr. Derek Bruff will help you do just that. Bruff, Associate Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia and author of Intentional Tech, hosts the Intentional Teaching podcast geared towards college and university faculty. His goal is to leave listeners with actionable techniques to make their classrooms more inclusive, responsive to an AI-saturated world and ultimately, more engaging for every learner. Esteemed guests on his podcast include Thomas J. Tobin (Senior Teaching and Learning Developer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) and Viji Sathy (Associate Dean for Evaluation and Assessment at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill). Check out Bruff’s star-studded episodes on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

4. Tea for Teaching by John Kane and Rebecca Mushtare

If you’re looking for faculty development and training paired with emerging research in pedagogy, this higher education podcast will surely be your cup of tea. The Tea for Teaching show is produced by John Kane and Rebecca Mushtare, who run the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. The producers wrestle with hot-button topics from upskilling in the age of AI to reducing bias in course evaluations. High-impact guests, who include Michelle Miller (Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Northern Arizona University) and Anthony Abraham Jack (Faculty Director of the Boston University Newbury Center), are featured in weekly episodes. Grab your favorite warm beverage and a notebook and tune into this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

5. Teach and Learn by D2L

Unsure about the direction that education is heading in? Then you’ll want to take note of D2L’s Teach & Learn podcast. Geared towards K-12 and higher ed faculty, the show is hosted by Dr. Christi Ford (Vice President of Academic Affairs at D2L) and Dr. Emma Zone (Senior Director of Academic Affairs at D2L). In candid discussions with educational experts, the hosts dive into issues affecting higher education institutions today. This timely higher education podcast offers practical advice such as how to put diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of your course and how to harness AI to improve student learning. Recent guests include Thomas Cavanagh (Vice Provost for Digital Learning at the University of Central Florida) and Karen Costa (Faculty Development Facilitator for the Online Learning Consortium). Leave with practical tips for your own course by listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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November 18, 2024
Voices of Innovation: Meet InsightsEDU 2025 Featured Speakers

Higher Education Speakers of InsightsEDU

Meet the thought leaders shaping the future of higher education at InsightsEDU 2025! Taking place from February 12-14, 2025 in New Orleans, LA, this conference brings together expert voices in higher education marketing, enrollment management, and leadership to discuss the evolution of today’s Modern Learner. This year, explore the future of higher education in 38+ sessions, where our speakers will share their vast expertise and unique perspectives. From higher education leaders to enrollment professionals, these speakers are vital to the InsightsEDU experience and are ready to equip you with insights to thrive in a new era of learning.

The lineup of featured speakers for InsightsEDU 2025 is still growing—stay tuned for exciting new announcements! Below are the confirmed featured speakers as of November 7, 2024.

Gregory Clayton

President of Enrollment Management Services at EducationDynamics
With over 30 years of experience in the higher education space, Greg brings valuable expertise in enrollment management and performance marketing. As President of Enrollment Management Services at EducationDynamics, he leads a comprehensive team offering agency marketing, enrollment services, strategic consulting, and research, all tailored to the higher ed sector. His leadership and career position him as a visionary strategist, equipped to offer insightful commentary on the higher education landscape and enrollment solutions. Join his session to learn more about how to better serve the Modern Learner and implement strategies that drive institutional success.

Session: The Evolving Expectations of the Modern Learner: How Institutions Can Adapt and Thrive

Wendy Colby

Vice President and Associate Provost for Boston University Virtual (BU Virtual)
Throughout her career, Wendy has distinguished herself as a leader in online learning and enhancing the student experience. At BU Virtual, she focuses on delivering educational and technological excellence, positioning the program as a model of high-quality online education. Wendy’s commitment to advancing digital learning solutions ensures that students receive an exceptional learning experience. With extensive expertise in strategic leadership and global engagement, Wendy brings invaluable insights to InsightsEDU, where she will speak on best practices for collaborative strategies that optimize institutional success.

Session: Bridging the Gap: Aligning Marketing & Enrollment Management for Success

Roy Daiany

Director, Education & Careers at Google
With over 15 years of experience, Roy Daiany leads Google’s national team of education advertising strategists, partnering with top universities and EdTech companies to drive growth. A champion of technology-driven marketing, Roy will share valuable insights in his upcoming session, drawing on Google’s data to highlight key areas for optimizing student outreach and exploring innovative advertising practices.

Session: Emerging Trends and Priorities for Higher Education

Brent Fitch

President of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design
Brent’s extensive career and leadership in higher education provide invaluable perspectives for InsightsEDU 2025. As President of Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, he has played an instrumental role in shaping strategies that optimize student engagement. With a proven track record in developing innovative programs that enhance faculty, employee, and student outcomes, his strategic leadership offers InsightsEDU attendees exclusive access to tried and true best practices within higher education. Learn from Brent to gain a deeper understanding of how to navigate institutional challenges and embrace new strategies for ongoing success.

Session: The Era of the Modern Learner: Redefining Higher Education

Andrew Fleischer

Head of Industry, Education at Google
As Head of Industry for Education at Google, Andrew Fleischer leads a team dedicated to transforming how institutions and EdTech companies approach enrollment and brand positioning. With a background spanning strategic roles in Google’s App and Retail sectors, Andrew brings expertise in using data-driven advertising to address complex business goals. In his session at InsightsEDU 2024, Andrew will explore Google’s latest insights on the role of AI in higher education and share valuable strategies to navigate the evolving student journey.

Session: Emerging Trends and Priorities for Higher Education

Stephen Horn

Chief Marketing Officer at The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP)
Stephen Horn is an award-winning marketer known for his inventive strategies that drive growth and expand market share. With a strong background in brand-building and nurturing marketing talent, Steve has a proven track record of success. As Chief Marketing Officer for CHCP in Houston, his role has been critical to program success. InsightsEDU attendees can anticipate gaining valuable insights into effective strategies for enhancing student engagement and aligning marketing with cross-functional departments.

Session: Bridging the Gap: Aligning Marketing & Enrollment Management for Success

Dr. Melik Khoury

President of Unity Environment University
Gain fresh insights and practical strategies for engaging Modern Learners with Dr. Melik Khoury, a pivotal leader in higher education. As President of Unity Environmental University, Dr. Khoury prioritizes student success and has spearheaded transformative initiatives to increase enrollment and retention. His commitment to affordability, accessibility, and flexibility are paramount to the university’s enduring success. Dr. Khoury’s tenure at Unity Environmental University has established him as an innovative and adaptable leader, making him an ideal expert to address today’s new era of learning and the unique needs of Modern Learners.

Session: The Era of the Modern Learner: Redefining Higher Education

Dr. Andy Miller

Senior VP of Strategic Enrollment & Partnerships at Indiana Wesleyan University
Andy Miller, PhD, brings a wealth of experience to InsightsEDU 2025. In his role as Sr. VP of Strategic Enrollment & Partnerships at Indiana Wesleyan University, Andy oversees enrollment and partnership initiatives, serving over 12,000 students. With expertise in building cross-industry partnerships and creating training pathways for adult learners to meet workforce demands, Andy is a pivotal leader in the field.

Session: Bridging the Gap: Aligning Marketing & Enrollment Management for Success

Dr. Joe Sallustio

Vice President of Industry Engagement at Ellucian & Cofounder The EdUp Experience Podcast
Dr. Joe Sallustio is a leading authority within the higher ed sector, recognized for his expertise in operations, finance, and academics. With over 20 years of experience, he has led teams across various institutional functions, including marketing, enrollment, finance, and student services, equipping him with the skills to successfully navigate the modern landscape of higher education. Dr. Sallustio leverages his extensive knowledge as co-founder and host of The EdUp Experience, a podcast that explores timely topics in the higher ed industry. Join his session to learn more about innovative strategies for addressing challenges and uncovering opportunities for student success amid changing times.

Sessions: The Era of the Modern Learner: Redefining Higher Education

Katie Tomlinson

Senior Director of Analytics and Business Intelligence at EducationDynamics
Prepare to unlock insights with Katie Tomlinson. As the Senior Director of Analytics and Business Intelligence, Katie expertly manages data and reporting, uncovering key trends to support EducationDynamics in delivering data-driven solutions for the higher ed community. Learn from her as she discusses findings from EducationDynamics’ latest report, where attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the evolving learning environment and the significant factors that influence Modern Learners’ educational choices.

Session: The Evolving Expectations of the Modern Learner: How Institutions Can Adapt and Thrive

Engage with the Leaders Shaping Higher Education

InsightsEDU 2025 promises to be another impactful conference, offering a forum for thought leadership, best practices, and meaningful networking among higher education professionals. This conference unites industry leaders and institutions to explore the key challenges and exciting opportunities facing the higher ed sector today. Taking place in early 2025, InsightsEDU is the perfect change to gain insights that will strengthen your institution’s foundation for the year ahead and beyond. Don’t miss out–Register today to secure your spot.

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November 8, 2024
Student Engagement in Higher Education
How to Deliver a Personalized Experience Throughout the Student Journey

Imagine this: a prospective student fills out a request for information on your website, sharing personal details like their program of interest, transfer status, and intended start date. What happens next? Too often, the response is a generic email or text urging them to apply. Then, perhaps unsurprisingly, many institutions see declining contact rates and applications.

Delivering an engaging, personalized experience — at scale, across programs, and from the very first interaction — is no small feat. But it’s also essential in today’s competitive higher education landscape. While complex communication plans and sophisticated automation tools play a role, sometimes the simplest approach can make the biggest difference: Asking the right questions.

Focusing on the right questions can strengthen student relationships, increase lead-to-application rates, and even drive application-to-enrollment success, helping institutions connect personally with students and boost engagement at every stage of their journey.

What Is Student Engagement in Higher Ed?

Before we can start asking students questions, we must first ask ourselves an obvious question: What is student engagement?

Engagement rates are metrics that show how actively involved your audience is with your content. By tracking specific metrics, your institution can analyze the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns. You should track the number of people who interact with your follow-up communications: whether they open, click, respond to, or visit a website.

Every interaction a prospective student has with your institution’s website, social media posts, texts or emails, and other digital content generates data that you can use to capture information about leads (prospective students) and better understand and optimize future marketing efforts.

Tracking and analyzing “clicks” can tell you:
- If prospects are opening, clicking, responding to emails or texts, answering calls, and otherwise interacting with your institution — leading indicators of intent to apply and even enroll
- Which prospects are the most engaged — so you can prioritize communications with them while your brand is top of mind
At Archer, we’ve seen clients have 44% higher application-to-start rates and 33% higher application rates when prospective students engage with an institution’s post-inquiry communication. This makes for an efficient use of resources, as you’ve already generated the inquiry. A bump in conversion rates can go a long way in stretching a limited budget.

One Simple Thing You Can Do to Increase Student Engagement

Imagine you have the opportunity to meet with every prospective student in person for coffee. What would you do? How would you engage with them? You’d probably begin to build rapport by asking them lots of questions.

A digital meetup should be treated no differently than an in-person engagement. “Digital” is simply another method of communication. Granted, you’re not able to sit at your computer and chat online with every prospect, but in terms of how to interact and build student engagement, you should think of it the same way: as a two-way conversation.

Simply put, stop talking at prospective students and start communicating with them.

As much as you’re tempted to begin by telling them how great your school and program are, it’s best to first understand where a student is coming from and what they’re looking for.

At Archer, our team and our proprietary end-to-end student support solution — called Onward — are available to students 24/7. Built exclusively for the student journey, Onward collects and analyzes data on digital student engagement and optimizes digital student communication with a goal of increasing post-inquiry engagement. It has taught us a lot.

We’ve found that one of the most impactful things we can do in our follow-up communication with students to boost engagement rates — at any stage of the student lifecycle — is to ask questions. Indeed, in follow-up exchanges where we ask students specific questions (and provide an option to answer directly in that communication), we see click-through rates 42% higher than average.

It’s Not Too Late to Start Asking Questions

Even if you’ve already missed a key opportunity to ask questions of new prospects, circling back to get to know them better at any point in their student journey can have an impact.

Working with our partner Peru State College, we started sending a “What’s holding you back?” email to prospective students who weren’t taking the next step forward. The email not only asked “What’s holding you back from enrolling with us?” but also let the recipient click on an answer. For that email, we saw an average open rate of 16% — which doesn’t look too impressive until you consider these prospects had stopped engaging — and, more importantly, an average 33% click-through rate (with a majority of clicks leading to “apply now” pages). Not only did the email help the college reconnect with “lost” students, but we learned how to better connect with unconverted prospects going forward.

The email allowed us to determine who was stopping out and why.
- The top reason for not moving forward was related to finances (35%).
- More than 20% of prospective students had enrolled elsewhere.
- 5% said they weren’t ready to enroll yet but wanted to attend in the future.
These insights informed our follow-up digital communication, as well as our one-on-one admissions team follow-up. As a result, we reengaged with a meaningful percentage of stopped-out prospects by understanding some of their challenges and following up with relevant information. Moreover, 20% of this audience took action by clicking to start or finish their application and/or call an admissions rep.

Student Engagement Strategies for Every Higher Ed Stage

We used this same engagement strategy for first-time students enrolled in Peru State College’s online programs. Before we could view information in our partner’s learning management system to see if students were showing up for class or turning in assignments — leading indicators of student success — we wanted to check in with these new students directly to ask how their first week was going. The email asked, “How are you feeling about your first week?”

This email had an average open rate of 71% and an average click-through rate (CTR) of 31%.

Using a similar email, Archer helped another partner intervene to help 14 students who had indicated they weren’t having the best first-week experience. By asking follow-up questions to learn what wasn’t working for them, and forwarding that information to our admissions team, we were able to connect those students with a success coach at the university.

Optimize Student Engagement at Your Higher Education Institution

Higher-ed marketers and enrollment professionals know from experience that the success of every student is important to an institution’s long-term success. Providing a more personalized and engaging student experience can have a positive impact on enrollment growth and student retention.

It’s time for you to start having meaningful digital conversations that make an impact.

While Archer Education uses Onward, our easily scalable end-to-end student support solution, to deliver personalized communication and tailored post-inquiry follow-up 24/7, you don’t need a sophisticated lead nurturing tool to improve your student engagement strategies. Simply start asking questions in your communication with students and provide them with an easy way to respond.

Want to learn more about how to modernize your student experience and increase enrollment and retention rates with Archer’s Onward student support solution? Reach out to us and learn more today.
Angie Mohr

Director of Marketing & Communications

Angie Mohr is the senior vice president of student engagement at Archer Education. With a background in marketing, communications, and CRM and marketing automation, she has over 15 years of strategic communications and higher education experience. In her current role at Archer Education, a full-service marketing and enrollment solutions provider for higher education institutions, Angie focuses on supporting student acquisition and life cycle delivery services, utilizing scalable communications strategies and technologies to help prospective students engage, enroll, and persist in their student journey.

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November 1, 2024