High-Impact Educational Practices (HIEPs)

What is an HIEP?

High impact educational practices (HIEPs) are:

  • intentional pedagogical approaches
  • that produce strong and enduring impacts on students’ progress
  • toward significant learning outcomes.  

They are characterized by engaging, student-centered, inquiry-driven educational experiences that set high expectations.  

At FAU, we have defined a HIEP as…  A learning experience that is specifically tailored/geared toward engaging students in meaningful educational experiences

HIEPs

  • Are intentional
  • Are appropriate educational activities
  • Promote curiosity and higher-level activity
  • Lead to fulfillment
  • Thrive with change
  • Provide self-directed opportunities to a defined outcome
  • Are relevant and meaningful
  • Are engaging, enriching learning experiences
  • Require reflection
  • Have an opportunity for application of what is being learned
  • Allow for “deep learning” 
Examples of HIEPs

From http://www.aacu.org/publication/high-impact-educational-practices-what-they-are-who-has-access-to-them-and-why-they-matter

  • First-Year Seminars and Experiences
  • Common Intellectual Experiences
  • Collaborative Assignments and Projects
  • Undergraduate Research
  • Writing-Intensive Courses
  • Diversity/Global Learning
  • Service Learning, Community-Based Learning
  • Internships
  • Capstone Courses and Projects
Why are HIEPs effective?
  • Students see connections between different courses as they integrate and synthesize material
  • Students can apply what they learn in class (relevance)
  • Students tend to talk about substantive matters outside of class with faculty and peers
  • “Deep Learning”
  • “Student engagement”
  • Students typically invest more time and effort in projects/assignments
What HIEPs are currently implemented at FAU?