Does Silence have a place in Higher Education? Exploring the effectiveness of positive silence as an instrument of pedagogy.

Conceptually, silence has been widely accepted as an inherently useful tool. In instances of public speaking, it can be used to build anticipation, emphasise a particular point and even to enhance the atmosphere of delivery. Yet, in education there is a long history of its utilisation carrying negative connotations. This action research project challenges this long-standing adversarial predisposition and, in line with recent literature, evidences its strength as a pedagogical technique for enhancing student cognition, prompting active learning, and facilitating deeper engagement.