Student Engagement

1. Student Engagement Saint Bonaventure University EXED 509 Communication and Collaboration for Standards-based Differentiated Instruction Summer 2010 Kristina Dussault Tammy Martin

2. Student Engagement What is it? Newmann described engaged students as having “a psychological investment in learning. They try hard to learn what school offers. They take pride not simply in earning the formal indicators of success (grades), but in understanding the material and incorporating it in their lives” (p. 3). Newmann also describes meaningful engagement as “active involvement, commitment, and concentrated attention, in contrast to superficial participation, apathy or lack of interest” (p. 11).

3. Key Elements • Cultivate one-on-one relationships • Learn new skills and habits • Incorporate systematic strategies • Take responsibility for student engagement practices • Promote a school wide culture of engagement • Professional development is an important part of increasing student engagement

4. Laying the Foundation for Student Engagement • Students are often disengaged with the topic • Classrooms with high levels of student engagement are not the result of student quality • Characteristics of engaging instruction • The background of students • Influence and expectations of family and peers • School wide and classroom practices

5. Elements of Student Engagement • Preconditions- Factors that must be in place before classroom instruction begins • Learning relationships • Creating the ideal classroom environment • Rewards and incentives • Habits • Fundamental skills

6. Elements of Student Engagement Cont’d • Pedagogy • Designing for rigorous and relevant learning • Personalized learning • Active learning • Focus on reading • Learning relationships • Classroom management vs. learning-based relationships

7. Classroom Management VS. Learning-Based Relationships

8. Teaching Strategies • Create an emotionally safe classroom • Create an intellectually safe classroom • Cultivate your engagement meter • Create appropriate intermediate steps • Practice journal or blog writing to communicate with students

9. Teaching Strategies • Create a culture of explanation instead of a culture of the right answer • Teach self-awareness about knowledge • Use questioning strategies that make all students think and answer • Practice using the design process to increase the quality of work • Market your projects

10. Teaching Strategies • Kristina’s Hand-washing Lesson • Does anyone have any good student engagement examples? • We found a great video that showcases student engagement AMAZING STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

11. Tammy’s engaging lessons • Plate tectonics hand gestures • Earthquakes

12. Local aspects of Student Engagement • Ms. Matejka • Music • Big product • Flyers to educate others • Working towards an end result/goal • Mrs. Monroe • Hero Day • Technology-clickers

13. Local Connections Local Engagement • Displaying work at the local mall for the community • Opening a restaurant for parents • Building a solar system • Stay after school and come in on weekends to finish a project • Focused on their task • Take pride in their work • Real world applications • Active involvement • Commitment • Concentrated attention