Language, culture and social connectedness in our diverse landscape: connecting students and staff through principles of pedagogy in higher education

Language, culture and social connectedness in our diverse landscape: connecting students and staff through principles of pedagogy in higher education

Social connectedness is pivotal to staff and their students for effective learning to take place. A longitudinal research project conducted at USQ developed a pedagogy to foster effective learning which evolved from transnational to best practice. It is based on five strategic principles:
sustainability, flexibility, context (diversity), engagement and scholarship.
This paper explores two of those principles, scholarship and engagement, which we argue foster social connectedness in the higher education context. For the purposes of the study, scholarship means respect for the integrity of diverse learning and teaching styles on the part of students
and staff. Engagement means collaboration: teachers to learners, students to students, working creatively in partnerships through participation in interactive exchanges of knowledge. The paper argues that the staff's consideration of both principles strengthened the effectiveness of curriculum design and the learning outcomes of students.

© 2011 by Ann Dashwood and Jeong-Bae Son and contributors. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. 2 print copies held USQ Library at 379.1202 Lan.