Use High Impact Practices

  HIP Quick Idea

Prompt:
Choose a scenario and write one sentence about how you’d apply a High Impact Practice (HIP) to enhance student engagement.

  1. First-Year Seminar: How would you connect class topics to students' personal goals?
  2. Collaborative Project: How would you promote fair teamwork in an online group activity?
  3. Diversity Learning: How could you include global or diverse perspectives in your course?
  4. Capstone Project: What real-world problem would your students tackle?

Why HIPs Matter

High Impact Practices (HIPs) are educational strategies proven to improve student retention, academic performance, and graduation rates. Originally identified by George Kuh through his work with the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), these practices include:

  • First-year seminars
  • Learning communities
  • Writing-intensive courses
  • Collaborative projects
  • Undergraduate research
  • Diversity and global learning
  • Service-learning
  • Internships
  • Capstone courses


HIPs are particularly impactful for historically underserved students, fostering equitable outcomes and deeper engagement. By participating in these practices, students connect classroom knowledge to real-life experiences, engage meaningfully with diverse peers, and strengthen relationships with faculty, leading to more enriching academic journeys.

Five High-Impact Teaching Practices by L. Dee Fink

L. Dee Fink has outlined five key practices to integrate HIPs into teaching effectively:

  1. Helping Students Become Meta-Learners
    Teach students how to think about their own learning processes to enhance their skills and confidence.
  2. Learning-Centered Course Design
    Create courses that focus on student learning and meaningful outcomes, ensuring every activity aligns with the learning goals.
  3. Using Small Groups Effectively
    Leverage small group work to promote collaboration and active engagement in learning.
  4. Service Learning and Community Engagement
    Include opportunities for students to connect coursework with real-world issues, incorporating reflection to deepen learning.
  5. Being a Leader with Your Students
    Inspire and motivate students by demonstrating enthusiasm and commitment to their success.

Applying HIPs in Remote and Online Learning

In a remote learning environment, feelings of isolation and reduced motivation are common. Incorporating HIPs creatively into online courses can:

  • Strengthen connections between students and faculty.
  • Foster collaboration among peers.
  • Lead to deeper learning experiences through meaningful interactions.

For example:

  • Use small groups in virtual breakout rooms to encourage collaboration.
  • Introduce reflective assignments to help students connect course material to their lives.
  • Explore service-learning projects students can do remotely.

Further Reading & Resources

  George D. Kuh, High-Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has Access to Them, and Why They Matter. (Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities, 2008). 

   High-Impact Practices from National Survey of Student Engagement

  

  L. Dee Fink, Five High Impact Teaching Practices, Collected Essays on Teaching and Learning, Vol IX: 3-18