2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
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print this pagePractical Tips for Increasing Student Engagement, Attendance, and Retention
Amanda Dahlgren
Saturday, October 19 - 10:00AM to 11:00AM
Kimball Arts 143
In my presentation I will share the details of the practical tricks I use to encourage engagement and attendance in my classes. This will include fun ways to foster community and a sense of belonging, to hold students accountable for attendance (for the entirety of each class meeting), and to encourage students to take pride in their work and invest in it outside of class time. I will share lots of tips that you can use as-is or adapt to work better for your personality. Creating a sense of belonging and community starts before the first class meeting with a welcome email, and is emphasized through the first few weeks as we get to know each other as a class. For example, I have a great strategy for learning students' names—including ones with an unusual pronunciation—and remembering them! After the census date, I continue to use little tricks to maintain a positive sense of community and emphasize that each student matters. From the first day and continuing throughout the semester, I talk often about the benefits of being part of a learning community and affirm the fact that each student is a valuable member with unique ways to contribute. We've all heard the "advice" that the best way to encourage attendance and engagement in class is to make class meetings interactive and engaging for students, but some students still seem to need an extra incentive. Ed code often doesn't allow us to grade attendance, and grading "participation" can be time-consuming and feel capricious. I will share easy activities that my students are responsible for, especially at the beginning and end of each class meeting, that require no value judgements and minimal bookkeeping on my part and, as an extra bonus, contribute to learning and community. I will also share my philosophy for "unexcused" vs. "excused" absences and how I have relieved myself of the dread I used to feel when trying to ascertain the difference. Lastly, I will share tricks I use to encourage students to complete work outside of class time, including readings, research, and, of course, creating photographs that they are proud of. This includes very easily graded homework assignments via Canvas, informal daily peer critique group meetings and "Picture of the Day" sharing, creative ways to conduct whole-class critiques at the summation of a project, and a self-evaluation template that can be adapted to any type of project and which I have found immensely helpful in grading. I will share resources with the participants of the talk, including my slide show, templates, rubrics, and a way to follow-up with questions.
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