Student Engagement and Its Relation to Quality Work Design: An Action Research Study
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Authors
Bowen, Elizabeth R.
Issue Date
2003-05
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Instructional Activities , Student Engagement , Design Qualities
Alternative Title
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to find out which instructional activities students
find most engaging, and what design qualities, including technology, are included in
those activities. A focus group of students provided input about the kinds of lessons they
found engaging in the past. Local middle school teachers designed lessons using the
design qualities in Philip Schlechty's WOW framework (2002). Students assessed their
own level of engagement in those lessons, and observers took notes of lessons and
interviewed pre-selected students. The research found that these middle school students
were more authentically engaged when lessons were connected to a product (Product
Focus), when they were given a choice (Choice), when they were given a chance to work
with others (Affiliation) and to let others see the results of their work (Affirmation), when
the work is real and meaningful (Authentic), and when technology is used in meaningful
ways (Novelty and Variety).
The results of the study were communicated to the learning community through
meetings with teachers and administrators. These meetings supported using Schlechty's
WOW Framework to design quality work to give to students.