Expectations about engagement and/or involvement in learning tasks are clear to learners at the beginning of learning tasks.

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

Involvement:

• suggests even deeper immersion in learning in learning than engagement

• is usually enhanced when learners interact with each other in learning tasks

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

In a primary music class, the teacher plays different beats on the cymbals, and learners respond by replicating the beats. This is demonstrated by the teacher and one learner at the beginning of the lesson in order to communicate clearly the expectations about the learning task.

New

Elementary

Learners in a fifth grade language arts class prepare for a writing activity. The teacher informs the learners, "Today we are all going to show how well we can write a descriptive paragraph." After reviewing the process, the teacher reminds the learners that they are expected to engage in planning and writing. He/she circulates among them to monitor and offer assistance. Then directs them to choose a topic related to their home life and begin writing.

Secondary

Prior to showing a videotape depiction of a novelette learners have previously read, the teacher in a ninth-grade English I class reminds learners to watch the videotape intensely and to carefully note similarities and differences between the plot and characters as depicted in the video when compared to the novelette.

New

Elementary and Secondary

The culminating activity in a middle school physical science unit is for the learners to create a machine that utilizes at least three ramps/levers. When introducing the unit, the teacher announces to the learners, " It is important for each of you to understand how ramps and levers work so that you can apply your knowledge and produce the winning entry." The teacher announces, "As I walk around the room, I expect you to be actively assembling this machine, or demonstrating the finished product"