Engage In Your Learning
The following page is a practical resource for Purdue students with strategies and tips for boosting your academic engagement, both within and beyond the classroom. We hope that it will be helpful for students who wish to get more involved at Purdue University.
You may also choose to download information as a PDF here.
Learning at Purdue
Learning at Purdue is a self-paced resource that you can add yourself in Brightspace. This course is not required and can be available to use on your own time to assist you as you learn at Purdue. You can add the course by logging into Brightspace and following the steps in the document below.
Enrollment InstructionsTips to Engage In Your Learning
If you are an instructor who is interested in information about helping your students get more engaged in their learning, please visit our "Student Engagement" page on the Innovative Learning website..
Establish Authentic Human Engagement
- Keep in mind, your instructors are human beings who experience struggles and may make mistakes.
- Remember, your peers are human beings with lives outside of class with experiences that are different than yours; you can learn from each other.
Use (and Expect) Variety
- Be prepared to engage in a variety of ways; it will be more than just showing up and listening.
- Use a variety of study strategies to learn, which will likely require some trial and error.
- Appreciate and adapt to the different teaching methods your instructors will use.
Build a Sense of Community
- Challenge yourself to put down your phone and engage with your neighbors before the start of class.
- Push through the awkwardness and talk with peers and instructors.
- Learn the names of your instructors and your classmates.
Explore the Content's Relevance
- Connect course materials to your life.
- Draw connections between concepts across different courses; mention these connections specifically in activities and assignments.
Be Curious and Find Your Passion(s)
- Being a student is a scholarly and active endeavor.
- Allow yourself to wonder and be affected — open to difficult content, conversations, and growth through uncomfortable moments.
- Share with someone what you have learned each day.
- Ask questions — in class, during office hours, and to yourself.
- Ask your instructors about their research.
Take Care of Yourself
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise, and healthy foods.
- Develop the life skill of seeking out resources related to your holistic learning, including learning how to manage your stress levels.
- Experiment with a range of coping strategies.
- Minimize emotional exhaustion.
Set the Tone for Your Semester Early
- Begin now. This all starts from Day 1 of the class.
- Read and review the syllabus, course schedules, and other guidelines.
- Build good habits early related to attendance and class participation. Engaging in class will help you maximize your success outcomes.
- Anticipate your workload and schedule, and make a plan that includes proactive communication with your instructors.
