The Joy Index: Co-Creating an Atlas of Engaging Teaching at LJMU

Williams, S ORCID: 0000-0003-0066-0482 (2026) The Joy Index: Co-Creating an Atlas of Engaging Teaching at LJMU. Project Report. Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool.

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Abstract

The Joy Index explored where learning at LJMU feels intellectually joyful: moments when something clicks, stretches a student, sparks curiosity or makes them think differently. Rather than treating joy as entertainment or an optional addition to rigorous learning, the project asked what students themselves recognise as engaging, meaningful and energising learning, and what teaching practices make those experiences possible. Six paid student co-researchers, spanning Levels 4–8 and five Schools, worked alongside a cross-University staff team. After ethical approval, students helped define the object of study, challenged and reshaped the language originally proposed by staff, designed ways to gather peer experiences, collected stories through campus pop-ups and multiple media, and created a student zine.

Early analysis has identified four recurring conditions. Joyful learning is active and shared; feels real and connected to practice; involves challenge without fear; and connects with who students are and where they are going, rather than only what they need to pass.

The work is continuing beyond the internship. Student stories are being developed into an Atlas of Joyful Learning and an emerging Joy Index for curriculum reflection and design. Additional £1,500 PRME UK and Ireland seed funding is supporting professional pedagogic resources. Subject to securing further UniTemps funding, an additional cohort of student interns could also extend data collection during this semester, broadening the range of student experiences represented.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Liverpool Centre for Engaged Management Research (LCEMR); Liverpool Research Institute for Climate & Sustainability (LiRICS)
Subjects:	L Education > LB Theory and practice of education L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Divisions:	Liverpool Business School
Publisher:	Liverpool John Moores University
Date of acceptance:	21 September 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	7 October 2026
Date Deposited:	07 Oct 2026 09:51
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2026 09:51
DOI or ID number:	10.24377/learningex4138
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29621

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