Student Involvement theory a way we might design for learning at York St John.
This session addresses Theme A: Engaging students in learning. It introduces the work of Alexander Astin, who offers Student Involvement as a developmental theory for HE (1999) Student engagement focuses on a correlation between improved learning and student motivation. Astin argues that motivation is concerned with feelings rather than behaviours; he argues for differentiating motivation from involvement. My own research interests include a fascination with the, slippery, concept of learning. I am drawn to the work of Etienne Wenger (1998: 225 229; original emphasis) who argues that learning moves on its own terms: It slips through the cracks; it creates its own cracks. Learning happens, design or no design..Learning cannot be designed, but it can be designed for that is facilitated or frustrated. The aim of this TLC is to prompt discussion around how we can design for learning at York St John University by developing our understanding of "connected learning" (Kinkead, 2003: 9) Astin's theory is one way we can do this. References Astin, A. (1999) Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education. Journal of College Student Development, 40 (5) pp. 518 529. Kinkead, J. (2003) Learning Through Inquiry: An Overview of Undergraduate Research. New Directions for Teaching and Learning, 93, pp. 5 18. Wenger, E. (1998) Communities of Practice. Learning, Meaning and Identity. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. This TLC will be structured using Rolfe et al's (2001) What? So What? Now What? Reflective model, i.e. a description of Astin's (1999) theory of Student Involvement, a brief exploration of the theory which underpins Student Involvement and an account of my own practice, and a collaborative discussion of how we might develop Student Involvement at York St John University. What? [Description] 5 mins So What? [Theory building] 5 mins Now What? [Action orientation] 10 mins References Astin, A (1999) Student Involvement: A Developmental Theory for Higher Education. Journal of College Student Development, 40 (5) pp. 518 529. Rolfe, G. Freshwater, D. Jasper, M. (2001) Critical reflection in nursing and the helping professions: a user's guide. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan