Nudging in the (Online) Classroom: A Tool to Increase Engagement Through Questions?

• In Event: Innovative Strategies for Promoting Engagement

Abstract

Achieving student-teacher interaction is more challenging in online than in offline teaching. In this study, we used nudging, a technique to subtly influence behavior, to increase student-teacher interaction in online lessons. In a sample of students in tertiary education (n = 1043), we experimentally compared a prompt nudge aimed at increasing the number of questions students asked during an online course to a control condition. Additionally, the nudge’s effect on students’ behavioral and agentic engagement was measured. Although results suggested a positive trend in the number of questions in the nudge condition compared to the control condition, no effect on behavioral and agentic engagement was found. Future research should explore how subsets of students can be supported in asking questions.

Authors

• Robert Weijers, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Bjorn De Koning, Erasmus University Rotterdam

• Ester Scholten, ECBO

• Fred Paas, Erasmus University Rotterdam