These types of learning activities excite and draw students in, in a way like never before, and this engagement creates the foundation for students that can lead to a lifetime love of education. Engaging students in learning is certainly a goal of every instructor. We plan our lessons around activities, readings and projects that will not only teach but also engage. Without engagement, students are not likely to have a positive learning experience. In doing research for this topic, I located The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory , which lists indicators for meaningful, engaged learning.
Engaged students are self-motivated and responsible for their own learning.
They are active participants in every area of their learning, including assessment, they have a life-long joy of learning, and they value working with others. It needs to cross discipline lines so they can see how being able to write will help them become better in math, for instance. The assessment needs to be more than just a pencil test, it needs to be performance-based and involve the students in generating their own criteria. Students in these communities are empathetic and know the value of diversity and multiple perspectives. They build on the strengths of their peers and engage all members of the community in the learning process.