5 Resources for Fostering Meaningful, Engaged Learning | XQ Institute
It’s March! That means we’re talking about the XQ School Design Principle , Meaningful, Engaged Learning. We gathered five awesome resources that explore innovative approaches on how educators like you create opportunities that engage students in meaningful ways. Now, let’s get to it…
Extra credit: One way you can stay meaningfully engaged in work is by joining our super-cool, brand-new Facebook Group (more details in the XQ X-Tra).
EXPLORE: GREAT TEACHERS DO THESE THINGS
Two educators set out on a journey to study 30 schools, conduct 300 interviews, and sit in on 750 hours of classes. They wanted to deep dive into what deeper learning looks like. And learned a ton along the way. Here’s what they found out about teachers who foster deeper learning:
SCRATCH MORE THAN THE SURFACE.
KNOCK: ONE DOOR CLOSES, ANOTHER ONE OPENS
How did one Boston teacher keep students engaged in meaningful ways, despite news of their school shutting down? She shared the news with her students. And they brainstormed ways to keep their doors open. Spoiler Alert: They succeeded. Here’s how she and her students did it:
GET THE JUICY DETAILS IN THE PODCAST.
LEARN: TEENS NEED US MORE THAN WE THOUGHT
Early childhood isn’t the only crucial time for brain development. Growing research shows adolescence is just as important. By understanding the science, educators can create more meaningful learning experiences. Without them, students may never develop the skills necessary to succeed. Here’s what can do:
CROSS THE FIRST BULLET OFF YOUR LIST.
THINK: MAKE AN IMPACT BY IDENTIFYING THE “WHY”
Showing students how their learning applies to the real world and their lives helps them stay engaged. But when they’re unable to make that connection, it can lead to lack of motivation to learn in general. Here are some tips from a veteran educator on how to help students connect the dots:
APPLY THESE TIPS IN YOUR CLASSROOM.
ENGAGE: HOW TO MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO LEARN
It’s no secret that students are often more engaged when learning through activity. But just because they’re participating doesn’t mean they’re developing the knowledge or skills the activity promotes. So, what are some ways you can engage students in more meaningful ways? Here’s what research tells us:
XQ X-tra
Teach for the future
That’s the name of our new Facebook Group! You can’t rethink high school alone. That’s why we wanted to create a support network of educators like you to lean on. Yes, members get exclusive access to XQ webinars, insights, tools, and more. But the most important thing you’ll get from this group is a sense of community.
Originally published at https://xqsuperschool.org on March 8, 2020.
