5 Tried And Tested Strategies To Increase Student Engagement

Student engagement is a focal point for educators across the US, and even the world. Since the pandemic, student engagement rates have steadily decreased due to a variety of reasons. This can have long-term adverse effects on a student’s overall educational experience and success.

When students are actively involved, interested, and motivated, they are more likely to learn, retain information, and develop a lifelong love of learning. This article explores the importance of student engagement, looks at different type of engagement and discusses strategies for enhancing and increasing engagement.

What is student engagement?

Student engagement is the degree to which students are interested, interacting, and curious about learning. Picture a classroom filled with students interested in what their teacher is saying, engaged with the material, and eager to problem solve, this is student engagement.

While student engagement falls heavily on the shoulders of teachers and classroom faculty, school leaders help set the tone and standard for student learning. All faculty and staff must commit to increasing student engagement to achieve maximum student success.

Student engagement is not a single dimension issue, there are three strands of engagement involved in students’ academic journeys and success:

• Cognitive environment engagement;
• Behavioural environment engagement;
• Emotional environment engagement.

Cognitive environment engagement

Cognitive engagement refers to a student’s psychological investment in their learning, or willingness to learn the material presented. The environment a learner is in plays a major role in their ability and willingness to learn.

Cognitive environment engagement refers to the intellectual stimulation and challenge students experience in the classroom. Many factors contribute to cognitive environment engagement, including:

• Intellectual rigor: The cognitive demand required for students to complete tasks and assignments
• Relevance: Connection between the curriculum and students’ real-world experiences.
• Feedback: The quality and frequency of feedback students receive on their work.
• Differentiation: Provision of instruction tailored to students’ individual needs and learning styles.

Cognitively engaged students become actively involved in the learning process, seeking to understand and apply new knowledge. However, because students are cognitively challenged by material does not mean they are cognitively engaged.

Cognitive engagement comes into play when students are given opportunities to apply their knowledge to real-world problems and think critically about mathematical concepts.

When teaching fractions, rather than drilling fraction problems, a teacher may present students with a real-life application of fractions such as pizza slices. The teacher explains to the class that a pizza is cut into eight slices. They then ask the students how many slices would be left if  \frac{3}{4} of the pizza is eaten.

For group or independent work, the teacher may ask students to think of other real-world objects that relate to fractions and create their own word problem. This provides students with real-world situations and a cognitive challenge.

Behavioral environment engagement

When you see students actively participate in an assignment or activity, they are more likely to be behaviorally engaged.

Behavioral environment engagement relates to the physical and organizational aspects of the classroom that can impact student engagement. Behaviorally engaged students are:

• Attentive;
• Participate in class discussions;
• Complete assignments with enthusiasm.

Creating a behavioural engagement in a classroom environment requires heavy organization and structure on the teacher’s part. This includes establishing and maintaining:

• Classroom layout: The arrangement of desks and furniture influences student interaction and collaboration.
• Classroom management: Consistent and effective teaching strategies to maintain order and discipline.
• Routines and procedures: Clear and consistent routines and procedures that create a predictable and organized learning environment.

Emotional environment engagement

Emotional, or affective, environment engagement refers to the emotional climate of the classroom and students’ feelings about their learning experience. Emotionally engaged students feel connected to the learning process and find it meaningful and rewarding.

There are many components to emotional environment engagement, including:

• Relationships: The quality of relationships among students and between students and teachers.
• Sense of belonging: Students need to feel accepted and valued in the classroom community. This also pertains to the overall school climate.
• Motivation: Students’ intrinsic motivation to learn and achieve.
• Positive reinforcement: Praise and rewards to encourage positive behavior and effort.

Why does student engagement matter?

Student engagement has a snowball effect on student performance. When students become engaged, they are more likely to achieve higher academic outcomes, including higher performance on tests, assignments, and standardized assessments.

In turn, this helps students develop a positive attitude towards learning, and they are more likely to view learning as valuable and enjoyable.

This new mindset forms students engaged in their education and more likely to continue learning throughout their lives, regardless of choosing a college or career path upon graduating high school.

Measuring and assessing student engagement

Regularly assessing and progress monitoring student engagement allows teachers to identify areas for improvement and adjust their instructional strategies accordingly. Various tools and methods help assess student engagement in the classroom, each involves teachers interacting with the students.

These types of assessments can be conducted in a variety of ways, including:

• Observations: Teachers can observe students’ behavior during class activities to gauge their level of engagement and compare it with class performance.
• Surveys and questionnaires: Students can provide feedback on their engagement levels through surveys or questionnaires.
• Informal assessments: Class discussions and group work can informally assess students’ understanding and participation.

Strategies to increase student engagement

Active learning consequently increases student engagement. Opportunities for active learning enhance the educational experience for students and provide meaningful learning activities.

Here are some popular active learning strategies used to increase student engagement.

1. Interactive learning and questioning

Interactive learning and effective questioning strategies are essential tools for fostering critical thinking and active participation in the classroom. By engaging students in meaningful discussions, problem-solving activities, and thought-provoking questions, educators can help students:

1. Develop their analytical skills;
2. Evaluate information critically;
3. Express their ideas confidently.

These strategies also create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment where students feel empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Common examples of interactive learning and questioning include:

• Asking open-ended questions;
• Using think-pair-share activities;
• Creating interactive games and simulations.

In an elementary school math class, a teacher could ask students to work in pairs to solve a word problem. After identifying a solution, the group could present their findings to the class and explain their reasoning.

2. Use of technology

From interactive simulations and virtual field trips to personalized learning tools, technology offers a variety of opportunities for students from elementary to higher education to explore, create, and connect with the world around them.

Effectively leveraging these digital resources, educators can foster a more dynamic, inclusive, and effective learning environment.

Common uses of technology in the classroom include:

• Integrating technology such as interactive whiteboards into lessons;
• Creating multimedia presentations.

In a middle school math class, a teacher could ask students to complete a task on their graphing calculators and ask for a volunteer to draw the result on an interactive whiteboard for a class discussion.

Third Space Learning uses technology during one-on-one math tutoring sessions to increase student engagement. Lessons take place in an interactive classroom and in addition to talking to tutors, students use the interactive classroom tools to communicate their mathematical ideas and critical thinking.

3. Real-world applications and meaningful work

Creating learning experiences that apply to students’ lives outside of the classroom helps students see the long lasting impact of what they are learning while making the work more meaningful. Often, these go hand-in-hand and provide additional levels of student autonomy.

Educators could include real-world applications to class by:

• Connecting learning to real-life experiences such as current events in their town or upcoming milestones;
• Using authentic formative and summative assessments such as asking students to apply their knowledge of money to a real-world situation to assess students’ understanding of concepts in real-world scenarios;
• Allow students to choose their projects or topics within a given framework.

In a high school senior math class, a teacher could give students the choice to either calculate the cost of a trip to visit a college or create a hypothetical budget of monthly living expenses. This creates a student-centered learning experience that directly relates to student decision-making experiences post-graduation.

4. Nurture relationships

Developing and nurturing student relationships is a powerful tool in a teacher’s toolbelt. Getting to know students as individuals and creating a supportive and welcoming classroom environment lowers their affective filter and encourages them to be open to learning.

It is also important to nurture relationships among peers. Having students work together on projects and assignments, through virtual or in-person interactions, is an easy way to incorporate nurturing relationships into the curriculum.

5. Self-efficacy

Meeting students where they are in their learning and building them up is key to helping them develop self-efficacy. Students who believe in their own abilities are the ones who can perform their best.

While self-efficacy relies mostly on the student’s beliefs, teachers and school leaders can help facilitate and increase it by providing students with positive feedback and encouragement.

This feedback must be genuine. When students reach a difficult point, rather than falsely building them up, help them set achievable goals. Break down complex, or daunting tasks into smaller, manageable steps. For example, mapping out the steps to complete a unit project rather than trying to meet one final deadline.

At Third Space Learning, highly-trained tutors adapt and tailor one-on-one math tutoring lessons to meet the needs of each student. All students learn at the appropriate pitch and pace to help encourage and nurture their engagement with the lesson.

Throughout each session, tutors provide helpful feedback to students encouraging them to persevere or demonstrate worked examples when misconceptions and errors arise.

Challenges and solutions in promoting student engagement

Educators encounter challenges in promoting student engagement, primarily a lack of resources. Limited access to technology, materials, or even quality professional development opportunities can hinder an educator’s ability to promote student engagement.

Additionally, schools with a high percentage of chronic absenteeism and large class sizes face higher obstacles. It’s difficult to engage students in a large class setting compared to small-groups.

To overcome these challenges, schools need to be creative. If access to resources is an issue, evaluate the resources available and how they are being used. Then consider contacting community partners and organizations that provide schools grants and funding.

Evaluate your school and classroom culture. Ask yourself if the environment fosters a sense of belonging and acceptance for all students. If the answer is no, work with school leaders and colleagues to see how you can work as a team to create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment.

The lasting impact of student engagement

Student engagement is the foundation of student success. For students to be fully engaged in their coursework, they have to find meaning and purpose in the content they are learning.

Students who do so can make lifelong connections to their content, apply their learning to everyday life, and further their success.

This enhanced understanding improves higher academic outcomes, increased self-efficacy, and overall student success.

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