
ERIC Number: ED412011
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1997-May
Pages: 137
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Improving Academic Success by Increasing Student Engagement in the Learning Task.
Foster, William; Gaa, Nancy; Nowicki, Jan; Ross, Venessa
This action research project implemented and evaluated an intervention for increasing student engagement in learning to improve academic success. The targeted population consisted of students in four separate schools: pre-kindergarten and eighth graders in a large metropolitan area and fifth and eighth graders in a rural community. The lack of engagement was documented through staff surveys completed by 61 teachers at the 4 schools, teacher journal entries completed during the first 3 weeks of school, and teacher observation checklists of targeted students completed at the beginning of the school year. The 18-week intervention consisted of: (1) cooperative learning small group activities that foster social skills; (2) social skill instruction through grade-appropriate curricular units integrated into subject areas; and (3) classroom management techniques that include clear expectations and consequences, student-teacher collaboration, and positive classroom climate. Social skills included active listening, participation, group problem solving, and affective processing. Post-intervention data indicated that the intervention succeeded in increasing student engagement. The incidence of class participation, attentive listening, staying on task, completing assignments, and following classroom rules increased as a result of the intervention. (Nine appendices include data collection instruments and class materials. Contains 72 references). (Author/KB)
Descriptors: Behavior Change, Change Strategies, Class Activities, Cooperative Learning, Educational Environment, Elementary Education, Elementary School Students, Grade 5, Grade 8, Interpersonal Competence, Listening, Preschool Children, Preschool Education, Problem Solving, Program Evaluation, Student Improvement, Student Participation, Time on Task
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses; Reports - Evaluative; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A