Student Engagement Theory

2147 Words9 Pages
Enhancing student engagement in the learning process is a pertinent issue amongst contemporary professionals in both educational and psychological fields due to its strong influence on student achievement. Recent studies have identified student engagement as one of the strongest predictors of academic achievement. Initially, this essay will identify a modern definition of engagement. This essay will then explore the psychological theories of student motivation, cognitive development processes and multiple intelligences and the ways in which these aspects influence student engagement in the learning process and evaluate the significance of these theories in relation to the contemporary Irish whole- school environment. The essay will also explore the relevance of emotional intelligence in regard to its significance in enabling the teacher to provide a positive learning environment for the students, which in turn promotes student engagement. Throughout this essay the Graduate Student Teacher (GST) will discuss the most effective ways that schools and…show more content…
Dweck (2006) emphasises the importance of cognitive‘mindset’, which she describes as either ‘fixed’ or ‘growth’, that individuals develop for themselves. A fixed mindset is one in which adolescents believe that their qualities are unchanging. However, adolescents with a growth mindset believe their abilities can change and improve with effort. Dweck (2006) argues that individuals’ mindsets can shape their task- oriented goals and influence their performance and engagement with tasks. Dweck (2006) proposes that mindsets are shaped when adolescents interact with parents and teachers who themselves have either a fixed or growth mindset. Therefore, teachers can enable students to develop a growth mindset through modelling growth mindsets during classroom activities and planning learning activities within a students’

More about Student Engagement Theory

Open Document