STEM conference 2019: Developing student engagement using blogging as a form of assessment

There is widespread debate in HE about how best to support students in becoming more active and engaged learners. This paper focuses on the role that assessment specifically assessed blogs can play in enhancing student engagement. Drawing on the findings of a project conducted at the University of Edinburgh the paper demonstrates how blog writing can: enable STEM students to personalise their learning (making it more meaningful to them); foster greater in-class participation and engagement with course materials (encouraging students to make connections across course content); and develop transferable communication skills (both academic and professional).