Student Engagement

Imagine you are back in 4th grade studying the water cycle, look at the two lessons below, which would you find more engaging, 1 0r 2? Why? 

What is “Student Engagement?”

Defining student engagement can be tough. There is not really one answer, only one's perception. It can involve the physical and mental energy that a student exercises during their learning experience (Abla & Fraumeni, 2019), or it can be how interested or excited the students are in their classroom lessons (Olson & Peterson, 2015). Regardless of how you choose to define it, all definitions revolve around the same central idea stated by Olson & Peterson, that “student engagement refers to degree of attention, curiosity, interest, optimism, and passion” (2015) that teachers receive from their students during their classroom learning times. 

Why does it matter?

Defining student engagement is important but we also need to take the time to understand why it’s important. To put it in simplest form, the better the student engagement, the better the academic success (Klem & Connell, 2004). When teachers are actively engaging students in the learning environment, they are able to pay attention more and feel connected to the lesson. This allows them to retain the information they are learning. It suddenly becomes less about a letter grade and more about the knowledge as they begin to care and want for that knowledge (Wolpert-Gawron, 2019). In addition to academics, there are certain social-emotional outcomes as well. Students become more confident in themselves. They feel cared for and respected. Data has shown changes in delinquency. Children are less likely to drop out of school and less likely to engage in substance abuse (Abla & Fraumeni, 2019). All in all, there are obvious behavioral changes as they find enjoyment out of learning and being in school.  

How can we get our students engaged?

First and foremost, always get to know your students! Not every student learns the same way. Be transparent. Let the students know what they’re learning, why they are learning it, and how they are going to use that knowledge outside of the classroom in relation to the real world (Wolpert-Gawron, 2019). Always offer a choice. Students want to feel like they matter because they do! Offer them a choice on how they will engage in their learning for that day. Involving them in decisions will engage them in discussions. Consider using Project-Based Learning (PBL). This will allow students to learn by creating. They get to find something that interests them and then create something that could impact the world around them (Wolpert-Gawron, 2019). Reduce “dead time”. Promote active learning during times of waiting. For example, if you are handing out worksheets, have the students pull out a piece of paper and write a quick reflection or draw a quick picture on what they just learned (Frondeville, 2009). Minimizing that “dead time” will keep students focused. Get them talking! Group work and collaboration is a great way to keep the students engaged. This gives them a chance to be heard and share ideas in a small group setting. They aren’t able to get lost in the crowd. Being able to talk through the lesson helps retain information. Lastly, Get them moving! Learning is hard! Stop periodically throughout the day and give them movement breaks. Kids can’t stay focused if they become overworked, overwhelmed, or restless. 

Conclusion

Wolpert-Gawron said it best, when she said “engaging students isn’t about entertainment” (2019). You aren’t there to “entertain” them. You are there to teach them. You want your students to care. As teachers, it’s hard to get our students to care; to want to learn. So, we have to really get to know them; to understand them. We have to show them that we care about them and support them (Klem & Connell, 2004). We need to allow our students to make decisions and occasionally feel like they are in charge of their education. In my classroom, I constantly encourage group work. I allow my students to pick their group and encourage them to be creative. We engage in a lot of “friendly competitions”. The students love a good challenge! It gets them all thinking and working together because they want to win. Recently we discussed the engineering design process. I had the students create a device that would protect an egg when dropped from a high distance. I gave the students a few pointers and the steps in the process but ultimately allowed them to work in groups using their own minds and creativity. They were able to pick their groups, pick their items, and create their own design. They took their learning into their own hands. Why was this important? Because ever since then, my students use some of those same ideas and processes when we are working on other projects or experiments. They didn’t just learn that knowledge, they learned how to apply that knowledge in and outside of the classroom. I’ve always looked for ways to engage my students so I could maximize their learning. When you come into my classroom, you’re learning through experimentation. I choose to get my students engaged. I know one day, whether in higher education or the real world, my former students will be faced with a question or a challenge and I can only hope that they will think back to their elementary school days and say “Hey! I know how to do this! Mrs. Gallant taught us that one time with that really cool experiment/ project!” 

References

Abla, C. & Fraumeni, B.R. (2019). Student engagement - evidence-based strategies to boost academic and social-emotional results. Eric-Education Resources Information Center. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED600576.pdf

Frondeville, T. de. (2009). How to keep kids engage in class. Edutopia. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from https://www.edutopia.org/classroom-student-participation- tips

Klem, A. M., & Connell, J.P. (2004). Relationships matter: linking teacher support to student engagement and achievement. Journal of School Health, 74(7), 262-273.

       https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2004.tb08283.x

Olson, A. L., & Peterson, R. L. (2015). Student engagement, strategy brief. Lincoln, NE: Student Engagement Project, University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Nebraska Department of Education. Retrieved January 29, 2023, from   http://k12engagement.unl.edu/student-engagement

Wolper-Gawron, H. (2019, February 5). Effective engagement focuses on getting students to care. National Education Association. Retrieved January 27, 2023,   from https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/effective-  engagement-focuses-getting-students-care

Answers: C, B, 1. Get to know your students; 2. Be transparent; 3. Offer a choice; 4. Practice PBL; 5. Reduce "Dead Space"; 6. Get talking; 7. Get moving