The research encounter : an innovative course inclusion that facilitates student engagement

The learning and engagement activity the authors describe was designed to demystify the research culture of the health faculty for first-year students, and there are implications for practice in other fields. It is founded on the idea of research-based learning, which in its pure form is a respected pedagogical approach but problematic for large cohort (>500) first-year students. As an assessment item, students were placed in small groups and were matched with faculty research staff and/or a research area to investigate. The students were surveyed before and after the research encounter; and results show that, among other findings, student engagement with peers and with the faculty were distinct positive outcomes. [Author abstract]