Help Students Ask for Support

Create Anonymous Communication Channels

• Students may benefit from anonymous back-channel communications
• Encourage students to ask for, and accept, help

Implement Icebreakers

• You can find some additional examples of university appropriate icebreakers here and here.

Use Gamification

• Implementing Gamification
• 4 Strategies to Harness Gamification to “Hack” Student Engagement
• Learn more about the effects of gamification on cognitive, motivational, and behavioural learning outcomes in this meta-analysis:

  → Sailer, M., & Homner, L. (2020). The gamification of learning: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review, 32(1), 77-112

Create a Supporting Classroom Culture

• 5 Tips for Teaching Students How to Ask for Help
• This article from Kirby & Thomas (2021) emphasises the importance of caring and supportive teacher behaviour in enhancing classroom-level belonging which, in turn, contributes to student success and well-being.

  → Kirby, L. A. J., & Thomas, C. L. (2021). High-impact teaching practices foster a greater sense of belonging in the college classroom. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 46(3), 368–381. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2021.1950659