Active Engagement

The most memorable human experiences are usually exciting events. They are events that
involve some sort of emotion or the use of multiple senses. Learning isnt any different from
these events. Students who are actively engaged seem to retain information at a much higher
level compared to students who receive content through lectures. Research backs this claim by
showing that students who are engaged in a content task are much more likely to succeed than
those who are passive to the learning process. As researchers from the National Association for
the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) put it, Research shows a significant correlation
between high levels of engagement and improved attendance and achievement as measured
through direct observations and interviews with questionnaires to children and teachers. Not
only does active engagement enhance learning, it also helps establish routines and consistent
classroom management. Students who are engaged in the task at hand are usually focused on
learning rather than other inappropriate forms of behavior. With the research quite clear on the
benefits of active engagement, the focus turns to the best active engagement strategies that are
available for classroom use.
Source (copy and paste link into browser) https://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200603/JablonBTJ.pdf
Chris baffle is one of the founders of the Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) movement.
This movement focuses on a teaching style that keeps students engaged in the process of
receiving new information. The aspects of WBT are quite simple establish a routine that has
students respond or mimic certain actions given by the instructor. This can be a class class yes
yes response or a Teach ok response (see videos below). The most important part of WBT is
that learners are involved in whatever they are doing. WBT is a great example of how an actively
engaged classroom is involved in all aspects of learning - all the time.
Whole Brain Teaching Home Website:
http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/
Example Videos of Whole Brain Teaching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBeWEgvGm2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XroJtR9gQc8
http://www.teachertube.com/video/power-teaching-first-grade-11188
Another great resource in keeping students engaged is the use of Total Participation
Techniques. Throughout the years of educational practice, many teachers have come up with
creative ideas on how to involve students in the learning process. Total Participation Techniques
(TPTs) are a comprised list of these activities as identified in educational research. TPTs can
range from think-pair-share to word splashes to even answer hold-ups. For a complete list
of strategies or to purchase the book Total Participation Techniques see below.
A link to Total Participation Techniques (copy and paste link into browser):
http://acadiatechinfo.pbworks.com/w/file/fetch/60481382/beleive%2Bin%2Btpts.pdf

Active Engagement
A link to purchasing the Total Participation Techniques book:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/111037.aspx
The strategies for keeping students engaged are abundant. There isnt one model that fits
all classrooms. The bottom line is to research different ways to keep students moving, talking,
and working on the task at hand in order to ensure the highest level of participation. Through this
engagement, students will be involved in learning and succeed at a higher level.