Indicator

II.C.1

High levels of the quantity and quality of learner engagement in learning tasks are evident throughout the lesson.

Definitions and/or Explanations

Learner Engagement:

• is the level/quality of learner participation in learning activities
 
• suggests more than simple on-task behavior
 
• can be estimated by periodic scanning (systematic observation) of the class

Classroom Examples

Elementary

During a third-grade art ceramics project, the teacher observes that, at one table, some of the learners are engaged in the project while others are only passively manipulating the clay. Using a friendly tone and a series of probing questions, the teacher motivates the learners to more intense levels of engagement. Subsequent observation reveals that all learners are engaged throughout the lesson.

Secondary

During a tenth-grade science lecture for review in preparation for a formal assessment, the teacher encourages heightened engagement by shifting from basic recall questions to a class discussion soliciting a variety of meaningful responses regarding the key concepts. Learners are highly engaged in the discussion.

New

Secondary

After reading the story The Little Prince, learners in a French class are asked to visualize and draw their interpretation of The Little Prince's planet as described in the story. The teacher periodically scans for learner engagement throughout the lesson. The class engagement rate computed is 98%.