Is Participatory Pedagogy Useful and Satisfying for Tertiary Students?

Shadi Esnaashai, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology Massey University Auckland,
Paul Watters, School of Engineering and Advanced Technology Massey University Auckland,

Abstract

There has been a seismic shift in recent years away from monolithic lectures to more active and participatory learning in recent years. While wikis and online, asynchronous learning has received significant attention, increasing in-class participation to improve outcomes has also been a focus for many teachers in post-school environments. In this study, we endeavoured to understand whether a more participatory learning approach might be perceived as more useful and satisfying for tertiary students in New Zealand. The results indicate that students are willing and motivated to engage in new approaches to learning and teaching in the classroom.