Levels of Student Engagement

The role of a teacher is to cultivate learning and growth and to prepare learners to live a meaningful and productive life. Student engagement is necessary to achieve these learning goals.

Student engagement is the attitudes towards school, interpersonal relationships within the institution, and disposition towards learning. Studies have shown that students actively participating in learning activities are 2.5 times more likely to score higher grades and do better in school. They're 4.5 times hoping that they'll prosper in the future.

When learners are actively engaged, they pay attention, participate in discussions, ask questions, and retain information. Students also develop social and emotional skills, such as communication, collaboration, and empathy.

There are five levels of student engagement: engagement, strategic compliance, ritual compliance, retreatism, and rebellion. This article will explore these levels of engagement and how they affect students' growth in both academic and personal areas.

Do you know the levels of student engagement?

Before we look at the levels of student engagement, like most teachers, you may find it challenging to tell whether your learners are engaged in class or not.   

A quiet classroom with students listening does not always mean student engagement. Effective student engagement goes beyond learners answering questions. You must have dialogue and let your students ask questions as well– your learners should just participate the same way as you do.

As a teacher, you need to understand students' engagement levels. Philip Schlechty's student engagement model shows how students respond or adapt to school-related tasks and activities.

These five levels are engagement, strategic compliance, ritual compliance, retreatism, and rebellion. Let’s look at the levels of student engagement in detail:

1. Engagement

The first level is engagement. A student at this level believes the assignment has value and meaning without needing any extra outcomes or results to find that value.Students ask questions, participate in discussions, and participate in activities. They're excited about learning and can transfer their learning information into another context.

Learners are also more likely to understand and remember what they learn. They are self-motivated and driven by a genuine interest in learning.

To improve learners' engagement at this level, you must be part of the learning process. Make your lessons exciting and encourage your students to share their thoughts.

Students participating in debates, science projects, book clubs, and art exhibitions are examples of engagement at this level.

2. Strategic compliance

Strategic compliance is the opposite of engagement. While the student finds value in the task, it revolves mainly around an outcome. For example, students complete their revision tasks to get good grades. They are motivated by external rewards, not a deep interest in learning.

At this level, students do what is required—completing assignments, studying for tests, and participating in class activities, but only to meet expectations.

This level of engagement ensures that students are meeting basic academic requirements. It keeps them on track and helps them achieve short-term goals. Learners may lack motivation but still perform well because they understand the benefits of attending classes.

As a teacher, to deal with students at this level, you need to connect lessons to students' interests to spark more genuine engagement. Provide choices in assignments and create a more interactive classroom.

Examples of this level of engagement at this level include completing homework, participating in class discussions, and revising for tests.

3. Ritual compliance

At this level, students work to avoid negative consequences and do the least amount of work to pass. Learners do their homework, go to class, and complete assignments out of habit, not because they're interested in or motivated by good grades.

Ritual compliance keeps students on track with their education, even if they're not fully engaged. It allows learners to be consistent with learning even if they lack motivation.

As a teacher, at this level, you can make students more involved by making your lessons interactive,  acknowledging your student's effort and achievement, and using rewards and encouragement to increase the likelihood of your learners doing better.

Examples of student engagement at this level include 

• Attending class: Students attend every day because it's required, but they might not be fully mentally present.
• Completing assignments: They finish their assignments on time because it's expected, not because they find it exciting or challenging.
• Participating in group work: They participate in group activities but let others lead.

4. Retreatism

At this level, students are disengaged and withdrawn from learning. They are uninterested in the tasks and do not see the value in participating. Yet, they do not disrupt the class or do other tasks.

Learners avoid schoolwork and may skip classes. They do not put effort into their studies. They feel isolated and disconnected from the educational process. Retreatism highlights students who are at risk of falling behind or dropping out. 

Addressing this level as a teacher can help prevent long-term negative outcomes, such as learners dropping out of school. Your strategy should be to re-engage students and help them find relevance and interest in their studies. You can build strong, supportive relationships with these students. At this level, students need more motivation and connection to school.

5. Rebellion

Rebellion occurs when a student disrupts the classroom or does other tasks during class time. At this level, students resist learning and the school environment. They may reject school rules, ignore assignments, refuse to participate in class, and challenge authority. They express their dissatisfaction with the school openly.

Rebellion signals deeper issues. Students at this level need support to address underlying problems and return to positive engagement. As an educator, you need to understand the reasons behind the rebellion and find ways to re-engage these students. You need to address your student's academic and emotional needs.

You also need to build trust and show empathy. Listen to your students' concerns, involve them in decision-making, and create a more inclusive classroom atmosphere.

Examples of this level are 

• Ignoring assignments: Students might not do homework or projects and refuse to explain why.
• Skipping school: Some students might skip school altogether, resisting the entire educational process.
• Open defiance: They might openly defy school policies, like dress codes or attendance rules, as a form of protest.

Objectives of Student Engagement

As a teacher, you want to see your students more active in class participation and specific activities. You'd also look for ways to increase overall degree and course completion. This means helping students stay on track with their studies and complete their courses successfully. 

You'd want to see students involved in specific activities, such as a science fair project, a school play, or a sports team. These activities help students apply what they've learned in a real-world setting and develop other important skills, like teamwork and leadership.

Whether your goals are long-term or short-term, all of these goals require active strategies for engaging students. Student engagement relies on strategies for:

• Creating a lively and motivating learning environment.
• Fostering communication between students and faculty.
• Promoting student success through hands-on support.

You need to plan well to successfully engage and motivate students in the classroom and throughout their time at your institution, from onboarding to graduation. 

Engaging your students leads to many benefits in student outcomes and institutional achievement. Increasing student participation helps the school reach its objectives and helps students accomplish learning outcomes.

How to increase student engagement

Student engagement strategies are methods you and other educators use to plan lessons and deliver courses that excite students about learning. Determining a good strategy can be challenging. Each student has unique learning styles, interests, and needs, so a strategy that works well for one student might not be effective for another.

Also, teachers have different strengths and preferences in their teaching methods. A strategy that aligns with one teacher's style may not suit your teaching method. The success of a strategy depends on how well you implement it.

Here are some common strategies to engage students:

1. Make class time valuable

You need to design a classroom experience that offers knowledge and skills that students can use in real-life situations, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and effective communication. 

When students find their class time engaging, challenging, and skill-building, they enthusiastically tackle assignments. Valuable class time also boosts attendance and degree completion.

Make lessons relevant using real-world examples related to students' life experiences and career goals. Include activities such as group projects, Science Experiments, and Case Studies so your learners can solve real problems through collaboration and experimentation.

Create an environment of active learning by presenting course materials using multiple methods, such as peer teaching, group discussions, projects, and simulation. Also, promote student-led learning by giving students time to explore material independently, ask questions, and discuss information in small groups.

 2. Value student input

Every student is unique and engages differently. Some like working in large groups, while others prefer one-on-one or working alone. Talk to your students to find out what works and what doesn't.

Your students have voices and opinions. Listen to their feedback about the classroom experience and the lesson's value. Do regular student assessments to gather good feedback.

Consider your students' thoughts and develop teaching methods to excite them about learning. When students see that their feedback makes a difference, they're more likely to keep sharing it honestly. 

3. Collaborate with students on their success

Provide each student with individualized attention. Students become more invested and motivated when they feel involved in their learning journey. Sit down with your students to set academic and personal goals. These could be improving their grades, learning a skill, or even planning a project. You work together to create a plan and track progress.

Ask for their input regularly on what's working and what's not. Use this feedback to adjust your teaching methods and materials. Working with your students can create a more engaging and effective learning environment where everyone feels valued and motivated.

4. Utilize technology

Make learning more convenient through technology. By using technology tools, you meet students where they are—online. Many students prefer working on their devices, and some might feel more comfortable communicating online than in person. Digital learning helps connect students with you, the content, and each other.

Encourage students to engage on social media, following safety and privacy guidelines. Use their familiarity with social media to create conversations that extend online.

Take full advantage of your institution's learning management system by keeping collaborative documents, discussion boards, slides, activities, and supplemental content like videos in one place. This makes it easy for students to access everything they need for their courses.

5. Ask open-ended questions

Open-ended questions can lead to more engaging conversations because they allow for various answers or valid points of view.  

These types of questions may force students to be more conscientious and more active during class hours. For instance, to encourage participation, begin with a question that is more open-ended. Next, pose further follow-up questions to clarify and ensure students understand the material. 

Identify Your Students' Level of Engagement

As a teacher, your role is crucial in boosting student engagement. Your teaching, behavior, and connection with students can shape the classroom atmosphere. When your students find it challenging to concentrate on learning activities, it's your duty to assist them in positive and productive ways. This helps them learn and grow.

You need to build your students' competence.  Competence means having the skills required to do a task well. Students who feel competent believe they can improve through work and study. It's essential to help students see their abilities and how they can grow.

If one of your students is struggling, try to identify what stage they might be in. While, in a perfect world, every student is at an engagement level, that's unlikely. Instead of pushing them to the top and overwhelming them, take your students to the top level step-by-step unless you think they are ready for such a big jump.

What do you think of these levels of engagement? Check out our course catalogue on classroom management and get the skills to keep your students fully engaged.