The effectiveness of nudging key learning resources to support online engagement in higher education courses

Abstract

Nudging has been used in a range of fields to shape citizens' behavior and promote public priorities. However, in educational contexts, nudges have only been explored relatively recently, with limited but promising evidence for the role of nudging used to increase engagement in online study, particularly in higher education. This paper reports on findings from a project that investigated the use of nudging in course-specific online learning contexts. The project evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention that combined course learning analytics data with a nudge strategy that encouraged students’ engagement with crucial course resources. When implemented in a planned and strategic manner in online courses, findings show that nudging offers a promising strategy for motivating students to access key online resources.

Keywords:

• online learning
• online engagement
• nudging
• learning analytics
• student engagement
• regional university

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the University of Southern Queensland Office for the Advancement of Learning & Teaching under a Learning and Teaching Commissioned Project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was declared by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alice Brown

Alice Brown is an Associate Professor in the School of Education, at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research interests include online engagement in HE, student nonengagement, and nudging. Her scholarship work is highly published and she is lead author of the HERDSA Guide Enhancing Online Engaging in HE (in press).

Jill Lawrence

Jill Lawrence is head of the School of Humanities and Communication and a professor at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research interests include student engagement, the first-year experience, and crosscultural communication. She was awarded a national teaching citation and a national award for university teaching (Humanities and the Arts).

Megan Axelsen

Megan Axelsen works as a project manager at the University of Southern Queensland. She manages the implementation of strategic and learning and teaching-based projects aimed at improving student engagement and university outcomes.

Petrea Redmond

Petrea Redmond is a professor of digital pedagogies in the School of Education at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research is situated in interrelated fields of educational technology, including improving learning experiences through formal and informal technology-enhanced learning,

Joanna Turner

Joanne Turner is a senior lecturer (Physics) in the Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research area includes promoting STEM fields to students through the use of cyanotype media to explain how UV radiation influences our everyday lives.

Suzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney is the finance discipline lead and an associate professor in the School of Business at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research interests include superannuation, retirement planning, and finance and accounting education.

Linda Galligan

Linda Galligan is a professor and is head of the School of Mathematics, Physics and Computing at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research interests include first-year mathematics, and using technology (tablet PCs and mobile devices) to enhance mathematics teaching and learning.