Creating and Maintaining Student Engagement
- 1. Creating and Maintaining Student Engagement Stacy Kirsch
- 3. WhyStudent Engagement? Studies have shown a correlation between student engagement and academic achievement (Carini, Kuh, & Klein, 2006). When students are engaged in the curriculum, they are more likely to retain information, skills, and concepts. Engagement is active and requires the student to be committed to the task…the engaged student not only does the task assigned but also does it with enthusiasm and diligence (Jablon & Wilkinson, 2006).
- 4. TheTeacher’s Role Teachers play a big role in keeping students engaged. One of their many jobs is to plan appropriate lessons that are engaging and worthwhile. In an effort to promote student engagement consistently, the classroom teacher must consider questions students may ask about the lesson at hand (Hentges, 2016).
- 5. WhatCanIDo? When planning lessons, teachers can keep in mind the following things: Integrate student interests into lessons. Tying in student likes along with relevance to the topic initiates engagement. If students believe the lesson is relevant to them and if they have a specific interest in that focus, it is easier for teachers to involve students in the learning process (Tanner 2013).
- 6. WhatCanIdo Cont. Creating a learning environment that allows hands on exploration and learning leads to engagement and learning for students. Having students work in small groups, find solutions to hands on problems or create a project as a summative assessment gets students up and moving, working with others and using critical thinking skills. Offering students’ experiences to explore and research outside of their set classroom community may assist them to perceive learning in very real and authentic way (Taylor & Parsons, 2011).
- 7. WhatCanIDo Cont. Incorporation of technology can not only keep student engagement, but also increase student learning overtime. When planning lessons, incorporate the use of learning apps, interactive websites or student response systems (Example: Plickers) where students can respond to questions and submit their answers anonymously. Personal response systems, such as dedicated devices like “clickers,” or Apps on mobile phones, can be used for active learning (Rawle, 2017).
- 8. WhatCanIDo Cont. Having students moving around rather than sitting in their seats all day can keeps students engaged as well. Using songs, movements, or games are all fun and interactive ways to teach a concept or skill. (Example: when teaching different types of rays, have students model acute, obtuse, and right angles with their hands.) Students can make connects with the movements or songs to retain information and stay engaged throughout the lesson. Kinaesthetic learning activities get the students to physically move their bodies in order to connect with course content and learn course material (Breckler & Yu, 2011).
- 9. WhatCanIDo Cont. Exit tickets can increase student engagement and can help teachers check for student understanding. The ‘Ticket-Out-TheDoor’ technique involves asking students to answer questions or prompts on a piece of paper, and anonymously hand in that paper on their way out the door at the end of lecture (Harris, 2013). Student will stay engaged throughout the lesson if they know exit tickets will be used at the end. These tickets may ask a question about the lesson or a problem in which the student will apply steps or skills. This is a chance for student to show what they know from engaging in the lesson.
- 10. WhatDoes Engagement LookLike? Depending on the grade level, subject, and lesson, Student engagement can look differently in various classrooms. Teachers can use their best judgement to determine which strategies to incorporate into their lessons to maintain student engagement. The following link is an example of a lesson in which the teacher has used different engaging strategies to maintain student interest.
- 12. Conclusion In conclusion, student engagement has many benefits for student learning and achievement. The purpose of this presentation was to share some of the strategies that are research based and effective when implemented successfully. All teachers should implement strategies that will keep student engaged and motivated to learn and retain knowledge.
- 13. References Breckler, J., & Yu, J. R. (2011). Student responses to a hands-on kinesthetic lecture activity for learning about the oxygen carrying capacity of blood. Advances in Physiology Education, 35, 39–47 Carini, R. M., Kuh, G. D., & Klein, S. P. (2006). Student engagement and student learning: Testing the linkages. Research in Higher Education, 47(1), 1–32. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-005-8150-9 Jablon, J., & Wilkinson, M. (2006, March). Using engagement strategies to facilitate children’s learning and success. Young Children (NAEYC). Harris, B. (Teacher). (2013). Battling Boredom : 99 Strategies to Spark Student Engagement. Taylor and Francis. Retrieved from https://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=ISAjAQAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=% 22student+engagement%22+and+%22ticket-out- thedoor%22&ots=jbyctMG6U9&sig=X1fJeblDkEDTBuUDg0R8p5xFFw#v=onepage&q=%2 2student engagement%22 and %22ticketout-the-door%22&f=false Hentges, Julie. Global Education Journal , 2016, Vol. 2016 Issue 3, p38-43. KinderGals,Inc. (2015, July 14). Active Engagement. Rawle, Fiona. Transformative Dialogues: Teaching & Learning Journal , Nov2017, Vol. 10 Issue 3, p1-14. Tanner, K. D. (2013). Structure matters: Twenty-one teaching strategies to promote student engagement and cultivate classroom equity. Cell Biology Education, 12(3), 322- 331. Taylor, L. & Parsons, J (2011). Improving student engagement. Current Issues in Education, Journal 14(1).