Learners are actively engaged and/or involved in elaborating, extending, or discussing their own or other learner responses.

• involves learners

• is a high 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

Involved:

• is deep immersion in a learning activity

• can be enhanced when learners

  • interact with each other

  • are asked for comments and assistance

  • roles are involved and detailed

  • access prior knowledge

  • can process and construct new knowledge in meaningful ways

In preparation for a science project on plant life, learners are asked to generate an individual hypothesis. The teacher encourages learner to learner questioning by writing prompts on the board for reference. As each learner states the hypothesis, others are encouraged to ask probing questions and/or to provide suggestions for clarification. Throughout this process, the teacher encourages learners to extend and elaborate on their own as well as other responses.

New

The teacher uses the strategy predict, observe, and explain to illustrate to the class how change affects a process. In a group learning activity for a given situation, the teacher asks learners to predict what will happen if a specific change is made. Learners give supportive details as their answers and extend their answers with details from another point-of-view or through discussions of the pros and cons of the particular change.

Learners are actively engaged and/or discussing their own or other learner responses. In a music class, learners reflect on how they would choreograph a short movement piece. They work in cooperative learning groups to discuss their ideas. As each learner shares ideas with the class, other learners add suggestions, add questions, and expand on ideas each other’s ideas by giving their personal opinion.