Difference between revisions of "Decrease of Students' Engagement"

From ScenarioThinking
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Line 1: Line 1:
<h2>Description</h2>
Increasing importance and emphasis is currently put on students engagement. A lot of studies and methodologies on how to assess students engagement are currently available. Although there is not one accepted methodology, results indicate that students engagement is not at satisfactory levels and are deteriorating. According to a study conducted by the national centre of education statistics, attendance among tenth-grade students is constantly decreasing.  <br>
Other studies approach the issue with the goal of finding ways to improve students engagement. One of these studies is quoted below. The leading reasons for students disengagement are the lack of technology use and the students belief that the educational system is outdated and is not responding to the current needs. <br>
<h2>Enablers</h2>
Students perceptions of an outdated educational system<br>
According to a study conducted by the national centre of education statistics in 2006, only 12% of high school students believe that schoolwork is meaningful whereas 21% of students believe that their courses are interesting. Moreover, according to researches, there is a link between students perceptions of school and their motivation and their achievement. In other words, students who feel connected with school are more motivated to achieve academically.
<br>
Lack of connectedness with the teachers <br>
Lack of link between student life and professional life<br>
39% of the students participating in the research believe that school work will have any bearing on their success in later life <br>
Traditional teaching techniques that fail to attract students interest and dedication<br>
<h2>Inhibitors</h2>
Use of interactive technology <br>
Children are increasingly using technology for their past time activities, why not also incorporate them in the classroom? <br>
Lack of understanding that needs of students change throughout time <br>
Autonomy<br>
One interesting study conducted by MIT cites a new discovery regarding motivation. The traditional motivation scheme based on reward and punishment does not seem to be effective when intellectual or cognitive skills are required to perform one task. In that case, mastery, having a sense of purpose and autonomy are the main motivating forces. The way the curriculum is structured does not allow any flexibility for students. Students must follow a strict schedule and not deviate from the teachers instructions. <br>
<h2>Paradigm</h2>
Schools should not reinvent but revisit their primary purpose: to educate, to provide mental food to students in order to be equipped for their professional and personal lives. It is not their purpose that has changed but rather the type of knowledge and equipment needed.<br>
<h2>Experts</h2>
Durham University <br>
National centre for education statistics<br>
Joanna C. Dunlap and Patrick R. Lowenthal from the University of Colorado at Denver<br>
<h2>Web Resources</h2>
http://nces.ed.gov <br>
http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/trends-in-higher-education/twitter-in-the-classroom-studies-find-increased-student-engagement/ <br>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc <br>
<h2>Description</h2>
<h2>Description</h2>



Revision as of 21:17, 7 September 2010