Jan 28, 2025
Define Student Engagement
Student engagement is the degree of attention, curiosity, interest, and passion students show when learning. Engaged students are more likely to participate actively, enjoy the learning experience, and achieve better academic outcomes.
Xello provides research-backed insights into student engagement. To read more, click on the article Here.
Top Strategies to Improve Student Engagement
For lecturers and tutors, a study shows using icebreakers, team-building exercises, and quizzes to engage students can effectively improve the learning experience.
However, keeping on top of these activities can be tricky. Breaking students into randomized teams takes effort and ice-breaking sessions can be stressful. But there’s a digital solution. Today's student engagement apps can do all the heavy lifting and are simple to use.
Digital Student Engagement Tool Can Help
Developed at the University of Melbourne, Deckle is an engagement tool that digitizes and simplifies classroom activities. Here are its key features:
Team Assignment: Form student teams in random order using AI technology
Customizable Game Tasks: Players use existing templates or create unique tasks tailored to their situations
Automated Instruction: Handles organization, logistics, and instruction effortlessly
Real-Time Monitoring: Educators see students’ progress during the game
Leadership Board and Grading System: Promotes healthy competition and assigns points to players
Store Responses: Options to retain student responses for later assessment and evaluation.
Melbourne University uses Deckle to engage 3000 students during its orientations. Check out our case study Here.
Let Software Match students to teams
It is often difficult to achieve true randomization by splitting students into groups. Deckle's Emoji Buddies takes the logistic work out by assigning students random emojis. Students find team by matching emojis and resulting complete randomization.
Are you looking for outdoor team-building ideas? Here’s our 41 idea list
Ice-Breaking Made Easy with AI
Engagement activities like Ice-breakers can quickly cast aside the air of awkwardness among teams. Deckle will gamify the experience by asking fun questions to guess about each other’s fun facts. The magic is done by its Mates Trivia, and it is effortless to host!
Key benefits:
Encourage conversation and improve diversity among teams
The gameplay process is automatic - no manual effort is required from the hosts
Hosts can use the existing templates or create their own questions
Students play by entering PIN Code on Web
Here’s an example
We crafted a fun ice-breaker game for you. This Mates Trivia helps students learn about each other’s academic backgrounds, fun fact, and stories to share a good laugh with.
Ice-Breaking & Initial Connection:
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and why?Share a Good Laugh:
What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to you in class?Professional/Academic Level:
What’s one subject or skill you’re secretly really good at?Personal Level:
If you could swap lives with a fictional character for a week, who would it be?Casual & Relatable:
What's your go-to snack during study sessions?
Give it a try on our web platform. Find a friend and click the link or enter PIN Code 2007 on Deckle to play together!
Gamify Course Rubrics
Students sometimes miss deadlines or don’t follow guidelines because they are unclear about instructions. Clarifying course rubrics can help. However, it’s hard to ensure all students are on the same page.
Image tutors can create a digital quiz to clarify rubrics with the following task types: Q&A, T/F, Multiple-Choice, and drawing. Students only need to enter a PIN Code and play. Introducing Incredible Race!
Key benefits:
Enforce all students to participate
Use the PIN Code and join via the web
Personalized tasks based on course
Store responses backstage for future review
Gives useful insights to tutors
Reduce most of manual effort from educators
Example Template
Here’s an Incredible Race template designed to help students better understand the course. A perfect example of gamification in education.
Photo Task: Say hi to your classmate around you and take a selfie together.
Open-ended Q&A: What are the main reasons you chose this course?
Deadly Question (Funny Engagement): What’s the lecturer’s name?
True or False: The course will have a midterm exam in Week 6. (True/False)
Drawing Task: Draw a symbol that represents how you feel about taking this course.
Multiple Choice: What time of the day is the deadline for the first assignment submission?
A) 11:59 PM
B) Noon
C) 4:00 PM
D) 8:00 AM
You can access this template now. Simply enter PIN Code 1640 on Deckle or click here to Check out.
Casual Fun Quiz
Incredible Race can also be utilized to challenge students' knowledge. You can check out students’ responses on the backstage and let the app do the grading. Here is our list of Incredible Race questions for a math class:
Fixed Q&A:
What is the formula for calculating the area of a circle?Multiple Choice:
Which of the following is NOT a prime number?A) 11
B) 15
C) 17
D) 23
True or False:
The Pythagorean theorem only applies to right-angled triangles. (True/False)Open-ended Q&A:
How do you think mathematics applies to everyday life?Drawing Challenge:
Draw a creative representation of the number 'Pi' (π) in your own style.
A scavenger hunt can also be a great way to engage your students! Here is our 50 Scavenger Hunt Ideas list to help you brainstorm the journey.
Time to level up student engagement with technology
Learn how to improve student engagement with Deckle! Discover tools for team-building, icebreakers, and gamified learning to make teaching more effective. Read more about us here.
Want to give it a try? Create your own game with Deckle
Create your own Engagement Game, and let Deckle assist you in your teaching journey. Click the banner down below to start!
