4 key findings on student engagement

Key points:

Schools in the U.S. and around the world continue to struggle to engage students, according to new research from LEGO EducationOnly one-third of U.S. administrators, teachers, and parents/caregivers say students are engaged in learning, underscoring the critical need for more engaging learning experiences.

Nearly half of U.S. administrators (47 percent) believe that a lack of student engagement leads to increased absenteeism and lower enrollment. More than half (61 percent) of U.S. teachers report that disengaged students show an increase in behavioral problems, according to LEGO Education’s State of Classroom Engagement Report.

The report summarizes the results of a global survey of more than 6,000 administrators, teachers, parents and students aged 5-14. It highlights deeper insight into what engages, inspires and builds confidence in students and educators.

The research yielded four key insights that draw attention to the universal challenges – and opportunities to address them – in education today.

1. Administrators, teachers, and parents agree that students are not engaged in their learning, but peer collaboration is a powerful driver of engagement. “Student engagement is lower than we would like. Administrators and educators are concerned about academic performance and absenteeism, and need new approaches and resources,” the report said.

Key takeaway: Leverage student connection with collaborative, hands-on learning. Hands-on learning fosters collaboration and utilizes students’ natural inclination to connect with one another, driving engagement by making the material more fun, tangible, and relevant.

2. Participation improves academic results and student well-being. “Engaged students perform better in school and are happier. Teachers who describe their students as engaged report significantly greater satisfaction with their performance in all subjects than those whose students are not engaged,” the report notes. “Beyond academic achievement and skills, teachers and parents want to inspire a lifelong love of learning.”

Key takeaway: Engage all students to improve academic performance, attendance, skill development, and overall well-being. Ideally, the methods we apply in the classroom will help close the gap in academic understanding and performance, while also fostering students' self-esteem and happiness to ensure their overall well-being and preparation for the future.

3. Improving student engagement improves teacher retention. “Eight in ten teachers would be happier with their jobs and find it more rewarding if their students were more engaged,” the research found. “But teachers feel the burden of not having enough support. Compared to their peers around the world, American teachers are more likely to say they need resources that are flexible for all students.”

Key takeaway: Invest in and empower teachers by providing ongoing support, professional learning, and resources to improve teacher retention and job satisfaction.

4. The path to greater engagement is through purposeful play. “The play-based learning methodology leverages our natural and intuitive way of learning, which is actively engaging, meaningful, iterative, socially interactive, and joyful. This methodology is defined by the use of creativity and curiosity, encouraging students to adapt, build confidence, and problem-solve,” the report states. “It encourages active student participation in the classroom, from asking critical questions to creating connections between concepts.”

Key takeaway: Promote a culture of play to make learning engaging.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. She holds a degree from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

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