Learners are interested and engaged in learning tasks as these begin.

Definition(s) and/or Explanation(s)

Engagement:

• suggests more that simple on-task behavior

• is active; implies more than passive involvement and responding minimally to the demands of a learning task

Learning tasks:

• are activities in which learners are engaged/involved that broaden their understanding of content, topics, ideas, and/or integration/coordination of skills

• vary from simple drill and practice to more complex tasks such as constructing creative solutions to problems through the generation and discussion of ideas

1. In an elementary science class, the teacher begins a unit on weather activity by asking, “Why does it rain?”  This type of questioning, which provokes class discussion, engages the learners at the beginning of a unit.

2. When starting a unit on weather, learners are taken outdoors to observe types and shapes of clouds.

3.  At the introduction of a unit, each learner is guided outdoors to collect a leaf, place it in a clear plastic bag, and display it in the classroom. A discussion regarding patterns found in nature ensues.  

1. Learners are engaged and their attention is focused on World War II review through participation in a quiz-show-type game at the beginning of a unit.

2. Prior to practicing specific dance steps, learners in a middle school modern dance class view a professional dance performance on a video.

New

Elementary and Secondary

When introducing a new unit, the teacher engages the learners in constructing a Know-Wants-to-know-Learned (K-W-L-) chart. The learners contribute multiple items to each category on the chart. The teacher informs the learner that the answers will be provided throughout the course of study and that each learner is responsible for tracking progress on his/her individual chart.

Learners are given a detailed process delineating procedures for a research paper. The process indicates the steps involved and what each individual should be completing at each level of the research. Learners are asked to explain in their own words the steps involved, thus ensuring understanding of outcomes.