Active listening for effective student engagement

Authors

  • Angela Newton University of Leeds

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1409

Keywords:

Active Listening, reflection, student, conversation, one-to-one

Abstract

Active listening can play a key and positive role in our relationships with others (Wolvin and Coakley, 2000; Bodie, 2011; Ellis and Abbot, 2018). When we fail to listen, we risk a lack of trust, empathy and insight; all crucial in effective communication. Whilst a lot of literature focuses on how active listening benefits students who use it, there is less understanding of the role of learning developers and the value of their actively listening to students (Canpolat et al., 2015; Shernof, et al., 2017; Eggenburger, 2021). Active listening by learning developers is, I would argue, vital in order to properly engage with and understand students. Utilising active listening in for example, 1-2-1 situations, may give students more confidence to express themselves and improve their relationship with and perception of their educational experience (Locktie, 2018). True active listening requires the listener to tune into the words of another person and suspend their assumptions (Lipari, 2010); embracing ‘listening being’ in our learning development practice may create a more positive student experience by building a person-centred atmosphere (Lipari, 2010). With discussions around the importance of developing a ‘sense of belonging’ in students gaining traction even before the COVID-19 pandemic, active listening deserves more attention. Moreover, in the context of high workloads and the increasing pressures of our higher education system, active listening is a neglected area of personal and professional development (Wolvin and Coakley, 2012). In this workshop, participants discussed how active listening can enhance their interactions with students whether online or in person. We refined our skills through practical, reflective activities, with a focus on the issues that impede our ability to listen and how we can improve. We also considered how listening feels from different perspectives and what kinds of behaviours we expect from a listener.

Author Biography

Angela Newton, University of Leeds

Angela Newton is a Learning Advisor at the University of Leeds. She works both with academic staff to create meaningful learning opportunities for students in academic literacies and directly with students on a one-to-one basis. Angela’s particular interests lie in object-based learning, active listening and critical thinking.  More information about her recent research project on object-based learning is available at: https://teachingexcellence.leeds.ac.uk/research/fellowships/developing-object-based-learning-at-leeds/

References

Bodie, G. (2011) ‘The Understudied Nature of Listening in Interpersonal Communication: Introduction to a Special Issue’, International Journal of Listening, 25(1-2), pp.1-9. DOI:10.1080/10904018.2011.536462

Canpolat, M., Kuzu, S., Yildirim, B. and Canpolat, S. (2015) ‘Active Listening Strategies of Academically Successful University Students’, Eurasian Journal of Educational Research. 60, pp.163-180. Doi: 10.14689/ejer.2015.60.10

Eggenberger, A. (2021) ‘Active Listening Skills as Predictors of Success in Community College Students’, Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 45(5), pp.324-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2019.1706667

Ellis, P. and Abbot, J. (2018) ‘Active listening, part one: how and where’, Journal of Kidney Care, 3(2), p.126-128. https://doi.org/10.12968/jokc.2018.3.2.126

Lipari, L. (2010) ‘Listening, Thinking, Being’, Communication Theory, 20, pp.348-362. https://doi.org/10.12968/jokc.2018.3.2.126

Lochtie, D., McIntosh, E., Stork, A. and Walker, B. (2018) Effective Personal Tutoring in Higher Education. St Albans: Critical Publishing.

Shernof, D., Ruzek, E., Sannella, A., Schorr, R., Sanchez-Wall, L. and Bressler, D. (2017) ‘Student Engagement as a General Factor of Classroom Experience: Associations with Student Practices and Educational Outcomes in a University Gateway Course’. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, pp.1-22. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00994

Wolvin, A. and Coakley, C. (2000) ‘Listening education in the 21st Century’. International Journal of Listening. 14 (1), pp.143-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/10904018.2000.10499040

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Published

31-10-2024

How to Cite

Newton, A. (2024) “Active listening for effective student engagement”, Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, (32). doi: 10.47408/jldhe.vi32.1409.