Exploring Engagement: Active Learning in Practice
Exploring Engagement: Active Learning in Practice
Lead: Adriana Smith Ortiz
Co-lead: Anna Tranter
Team: Amy Stickels, Abigail Ball, Matthew Danes, Emily Davies, Sutong Duan, Grace Fisher, Upama Ghosh, Sara Hattersley, Caitlyn Lim
Please be aware that this site is currently under construction
Summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the current extent, and understanding of active learning practices across Warwick, identifying opportunities for enhancement in line with the 2030 strategic vision. Active learning is an instructional approach that engages students directly in the learning process through purposeful, participatory activities. Rather than passively receiving information from an expert, students are required to undertake meaningful tasks. Examples of active learning activities include answering questions, problem solving, discussing concepts, presenting ideas, teaching peers and reflecting on action (Bonwell & Eison, 1991; Prince, 2004; Nguyen et al, 2021; Betts, 2024).
This project investigates how active learning is implemented and experienced across the university. By examining academic practices, student perceptions and shared challenges, the project will identify effective and inclusive approaches that foster collaboration in teaching. The outcomes will support the development of more resilient, evidence informed educational approaches that strengthen the university’s commitment to educational excellence.
The questions we will answer are:
- To what extent do Warwick students experience active learning in their curriculum?
- What type of learning activities are used?
- Do students and staff perceive this pedagogy as engaging?
- What are the key enablers and barriers to active learning at Warwick?
Adriana Smith Ortiz
Dr Adriana Smith Ortiz is an Assistant Professor at WMG, University of Warwick, teaching across undergraduate, postgraduate, and degree apprenticeship programmes. She also serves as Deputy Head of Student Experience for the Industrial Management Education Group, where she is dedicated to enhancing student engagement through active learning approaches and supporting a positive educational experience.
Anna Tranter
Dr Anna Tranter teaches on the Warwick Global Academy.
She has a particular interest in how active learning can support international students’ transitions into higher education, fostering confidence, collaboration and belonging.
Amy Stickels
Amy is a Teaching and Learning Consultant at Warwick Business School and WIHEA alumna.
She has a particular interest in the use of active learning techniques in online learning environments and how staff can be enabled and feel confident to experiment with active learning in their practice.
Abigail Ball
Abi is an Associate Professor and the Head of Digital Learning in the School of Education, Learning and Communication Sciences.
She is interested in how active learning is experienced by students studying online and in sharing good online active learning practice across the institution.
Matthew Danes
Matthew is an Assistant Professor (Digital Marketing) Teaching Focussed, for WMG. He particularly enjoys the crossover of marketing and teaching.
Matthew is passionate in enabling educationalists in creating learning experiences that really add value to the participant. Matthew feels Active Learning, amongst other pedagogic practices, is a great means for any educator to enact the four pillars of the Teaching Content Matrix (Educate, Engage, Inspire, Convince).
Emily Davies
Emily is an Assistant Professor based in the Centre for Teacher Education.
She is particularly interested in curriculum design and pedagogical approaches in the early years and primary phases. Emily joined the Active Learning Network in 2022 and enjoys sharing experiences of teaching and learning in higher education with colleague from different disciplines.
Sutong Duan
Sutong is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Psychology. Her research focuses on language predictive processing, prediction error and memory, as well as second-language processing and learning. She is also a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), teaching statistics modules and leading language and cognition seminars.
Drawing on her personal experience as a reflective learner and her teaching experience across different formats, she believes that active learning plays a crucial role in knowledge construction. As a result, she is keen to further explore how active learning approaches can support effective teaching and learning.
Grace Fisher
Grace Fisher is a final-year medical student at Warwick Medical School with a strong interest in academic medicine, medical education, and palliative care. She has experience in research, peer review, and student-led publication, and currently works with the Reinvention Journal editorial team, where she supports training, mentoring, and editorial processes. Alongside her academic work, Grace is involved in projects exploring student engagement, active learning, and inequalities in healthcare. She is particularly interested in widening participation, sociological perspectives in medicine, and improving learning experiences through more inclusive and interactive teaching approaches.
Upama Ghosh
Upama is a Teaching Fellow in Warwick Global Academy. She has an MSc in Economics from Calcutta University and a PGCE from the University of the West of England. She has completed the Warwick PGA in Technology Enhanced Learning and is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Upama joined the University of Warwick in 2022. She delivers lectures and seminars on Economics, IRS for Social Science, Economics, Law and Arts.
Sara Hattersley
Sara is Associate Professor in ADC, with responsibility for the support and development of postgraduate researchers who teach. She also co-tutors on the PGA Digital Education.
Sara is passionate about encouraging early career teachers in understanding and using active learning strategies as tools for engagement and inclusion, and intersecting this with sustainable digital approaches.
