Exploring the Link Between Student Engagement and Deeper Learning

When students are engaged in their learning, they are more likely to dive deeper into the material. This is because they are actively participating in the process, asking questions, and seeking out answers.

This is a concept that was recently explored by Amanda Jansen, a University of Delaware professor in the College of Education and Human Development. 

With attention to teachers’ first-person narratives and reflections, her study offers educators a model for understanding student engagement so that they can better facilitate deeper learning in their classrooms.

Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), it was found that the majority of the teachers in Jansen’s study understood the primary function of student engagement to be deeper learning about a mathematics concept rather than classroom performance. These teachers talked more about engagement in terms of cognitive, affective and social processes, and they often spoke about more than one dimension.

Jansen also emphasizes that how educators ask students to be engaged often reveals helpful information about educators’ instructional practices and their own assumptions. It can also send a message to students about their role in the learning process.

These more engaged students are more likely to analyze and evaluate information, rather than just passively accepting it. This higher level of thinking leads to a deeper understanding of the material and allows students to apply their knowledge in real-world situations.

To speak to Jansen about the study and its impact, click her "View Profile" button.