At the November 5, 2024, Professional Development Day for Independence Local Schools’ staff, Superintendent Kelli Cogan presented on how the district is dedicated to fostering student engagement. "Engagement is the goal," Cogan emphasized, "because we know that engaged students learn deeply, retain what they've learned, and can transfer that knowledge to new contexts."
Cogan outlined four distinct "profiles of learners" that teachers need to understand:
1. Strategic Compliance - These students learn at high levels but have only a superficial grasp of the material.
2. Ritual Compliance - These students learn at low levels, retain little, and struggle to apply what they've learned.
3. Retreatism - These students do not actively participate and therefore learn very little.
4. Rebellion - These students learn little and often develop poor work habits and negative attitudes.
To shift these learner profiles towards deeper engagement, Cogan explained that teachers must transition from simply instructing and planning lessons to becoming "designers of engaging learning experiences."
The presentation highlighted 10 key "design qualities" that teachers should incorporate:
1. Content and Substance
2. Product Focus
3. Organization of Knowledge
4. Clear and Compelling Product Standards
5. Protection from Adverse Consequences
6. Affiliation
7. Affirmation
8. Choice
9. Novelty and Variety
10. Authenticity
"By thoughtfully designing lessons that tap into these qualities, our teachers can foster the level of engagement that leads to profound learning," said Cogan.
The district provided teachers with a matrix of instructional activities tied to the design qualities, as well as guidance on observing students and asking questions to better understand their motivations as learners.
"Our commitment to engagement means empowering our teachers to create learning experiences that truly resonate with students," Cogan concluded. "When our students are engaged, the possibilities for their growth and achievement are limitless."