Engagement...

For Spring being a time of new birth and growth, it can certainly be depressing seeing many of our students wither and die (metaphorically speaking, of course) as we get to this point in the school year. Testing is over, Spring Break comes and goes, and along with...student motivation. Obviously, this is not all inclusive, but for many students, Spring is simply a sentence that must be served until Summer rolls around and with it the parole many have been waiting so long for.

So what's the problem? Why do the ranks of the unmotivated seem to grow this time of the year? And what can educators do about it? I'll begin with the last question and I'll answer by saying that what we don't need to do is try and simply survive, all the while longing for the days when it seemed like all of the students were little paper dolls and knew how to behave and could focus longer (check this blog out for some ideas on students and engagement). Like our society and world, students have evolved and are more overtly diverse than ever before. They don't all respond to identical stimuli across educational disciplines, in fact, they likely need a multitude of various techniques and offerings to grab and hold them.

The first two questions' answers lie partially within the educator. Are we enthusiastic enough to keep searching for things to motivate the stagnant? Or are we simply marking off the days on the calendar along with the students? Does an over-emphasis on testing this time of the year add to this problem? Absolutely! But until the laws change, this situation will remain as it is. Overcoming this situation is, in my opinion, critical for our students, especially those in the middle and on down from an achievement standpoint. While searching for answers, I came a across a very simple and straightforward site from the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory dealing with this very topic. I won't go over the entire article...but I will end with this quote that should inspire at a least casual glance if not some independent research beyond. " Whether the decrease in student engagement is the result of unmotivated students or of school practices that fail to sufficiently interest and engage all learners, an ample body of research suggests that the situation can be changed." I can't help but think that educational technology can play a vital role.